Experimental-Based Numerical Simulation of Two Phase Flow through Porous Media: Comparison of Finite Element and Finite Difference Schemes

Two phase flow in porous media has been the interest of many scientific researchers specially in the field of reservoir engineering. In this study the nonlinear partial differential equations governing two phase flow through porous media are solved using two different methods namely; finite difference and finite element. The capillary pressure term is considered in the mathematical model. The numerical results on a 2-D test case are then compared with the experimental drainage process and water flooding performed on a glass type micromodel. Based on the obtained results the finite element scheme was found to be more adequate and its results are matched well with the experimental data.

Keywords:

Two Phase Flow , Finite Difference , Finite Element , Micromodel