An Experimental-based Numerical Simulation of Two Phase Flow Through Porous Media: A Comparative Study on Finite Element and Finite Difference Schemes

Abstract

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, finite difference technique needs less computational time for solving governing equations of two phase flow, but findings of this method show less agreement with the experimental data. The finite element scheme was found to be more adequate and its results are matched well with the obtained experimental data.

Keywords:

• finite difference method
• finite element method
• micromodel
• two phase flow