Multiphase Flow in a Naturally Fractured Reservoir: Equation of Continuity

Abstract

In this article an equation of continuity of multiphase flow in naturally fractured reservoirs was derived. The scaling analysis is presented in order to identify the characteristic scales where the fractured porous media can be studied. The system under consideration consists of two regions and an inter-region. One region is porous medium saturated with multiphase flow (-region) and the other region is multiphase flow in the fracture (-region). The multiphase flow analyzed in both regions is water-oil-gas. The one-equation model (single velocity) was obtained for predicted energy transfer in naturally fractured reservoirs using the non-local averaging approximation.

Keywords:

• boundary region
• continuity equation
• fracture
• heterogeneous system
• homogeneous region
• multiphase flow
• non-local averaging
• oil field
• porous medium
• stratification