EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Abdin & Kaluarachchi 1997
Abdin, A.E. and Kaluarachchi, J.J. (1997). Stochastic analysis of three-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media: 2. Numerical simulations. Water Resources Research 33: doi: 10.1029/97WR00042. issn: 0043-1397.

The first paper of this two-part series <Abdin and Kaluarachchi, this issue> developed a spectral/perturbation analysis to predict the variability of individual and capillary pressures of three-phase (water, oil, and air) flow in heterogeneous porous media. The work in this manuscript is an extension of that work to validate the applicability of the perturbation analysis and to study the stochastic behavior of three-phase flow. The input stochastic variables were soil grain size distribution index, &agr;, and log k where k is the permeability. In this work a one-dimensional numerical solution was developed to solve the three coupled nonlinear flow equations. The results using three different combinations of input stochastic variables showed good agreement between perturbation and numerical analyses over a wide range of flow conditions. In addition, the results showed a large influence of subsurface heterogeneity on the predicted capillary pressure variability. In general, this variability was highest with the uncorrelated &agr; and log k case followed by deterministic &agr; (stochastic log k) and correlated cases. The results suggest that subsurface heterogeneity is important in predicting three-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media. Finally, the results of this work can be used as a preliminary step for stochastic analysis of three-fluid phase flow.¿ 1997 American Geophysical Union

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Hydrology
Journal
Water Resources Research
http://www.agu.org/wrr/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit