On the effective continuum method for modeling multiphase flow, multicomponent transport, and heat transfer in fractured rock

Wu, Yu‐Shu

doi:10.1029/gm122p0299

Cited by 41 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The existence of fractures and heterogeneity in porous media, which are often hierarchical in nature, has led to the multicontinuum class of models. Some of the commonly used continuum-scale models include (1) equivalent continuum model (ECM) [41]; (2) dual permeability model (DPM), dual or multiporosity model [42,43], multiple interacting continua approach (MINC) [44], and (3) discrete fracture and matrix model [45]. Among these three commonly used approaches, the dual-continuum approach has been extensively applied in different subsurface environments [46][47][48].…”

Section: Multicontinuum Representationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reactive transport codes for subsurface environmental simulation

et al. 2014

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A general description of the mathematical and numerical formulations used in modern numerical reactive transport codes relevant for subsurface environmental simulations is presented. The formulations are followed by short descriptions of commonly used and available subsurface simulators that consider continuum representations of flow, transport, and reactions in porous media. These formulations are applicable to most of the subsurface environmental benchmark problems included in this special issue. The list of codes described briefly here includes PHREEQC, HPx, PHT3D, OpenGeoSys (OGS), HYTEC, ORCHESTRA, TOUGHREACT, eSTOMP, HYDROGEOCHEM, CrunchFlow, MIN3P, and PFLOTRAN. The descriptions include a C. I. Steefel ( ) · B. Arora · S. Molins · N. Spycher

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Section: Multicontinuum Representationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reactive transport codes for subsurface environmental simulation

et al. 2014

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“…The key issue for simulating flow and transport in fractured rock is how fracture-matrix interactions under different conditions involving multiple processes are handled. The commonly used mathematical methods for dealing with such interactions include: (1) an explicit discrete-fracture and matrix model (e.g., Snow, 1969;Sudicky and McLaren, 1992), (2) the dual-continuum method [including double-and multi-porosity, dual-permeability, or the more general "multiple interacting continua'' (MINC) method (e.g., Barenblatt et al, 1960;Warren and Root, 1963;Kazemi, 1969;Pruess and Narasimhan, 1985;Wu and Pruess, 1988)], and (3) the effective-continuum method (ECM) (e.g., Wu, 2000).The explicit discrete-fracture approach is, in principle, a rigorous model. However, the 3 application of this method is computationally intensive.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…ECM models have long been used for modeling fracture-matrix flow because of their simplicity in data requirements and their computational efficiency. This approach may be applicable to modeling multiphase, nonisothermal flow and solute transport in fractured porous media under thermodynamic equilibrium conditions (Wu, 2000). When rapid flow and transport processes occur in many subsurface fractured reservoirs, however, thermodynamic equilibrium conditions can not (in general) be satisfied.…”

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confidence: 99%

A triple-continuum approach for modeling flow and transport processes in fractured rock

Liu

Bodvarsson

2004

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

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164

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This paper presents a new triple-continuum conceptual model for simulating flow and transport processes in fractured rock. Field data collected from the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain, a potential repository site of high-level nuclear waste, show that there are significant numbers of small-scale fractures. Although these small fractures may not contribute to the global flow and transport within the fracture networks, they may have a considerable effect on solute transport and liquid flow between the fractures and the matrix. The effect of these small fractures has not been considered in previous modeling investigations within the context of a continuum approach. A new triple-continuum model (consisting of matrix, small-fracture and large-fracture continua) has been developed to investigate the effect of these small fractures. This paper derives the model formulation and discusses the basic triple-continuum behavior of flow and transport processes under different conditions, using both analytical solutions and numerical approaches. The simulation results from the site-scale model of the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain indicate that these small fractures may have an important effect on radionuclide transport within the mountain.Key Words: Naturally fractured reservoir, fractured porous media, double-porosity model, dual-permeability model, triple-continuum model, numerical reservoir simulation, and fractured unsaturated rock. 2 IntroductionThe study of flow and transport processes in fractured rock has recently received increased attention because of its importance to underground natural-resource recovery, waste storage, and environmental remediation. Since the 1960s, significant progress has been made towards the understanding and modeling of flow and transport processes in fractured rock (Barenblatt et al., 1960;Warren and Root, 1963;Kazemi, 1969;Pruess and Narasimhan, 1985). Despite these advances, modeling the coupled processes of multiphase fluid flow, heat transfer, and chemical migration in a fractured porous medium remains a conceptual and mathematical challenge. The difficulty stems primarily from (1) the nature of inherent heterogeneity, (2) the uncertainties associated with the characterization of a fracture-matrix system for any field-scale problem, and (3) the difficulties in conceptualizing, understanding, and describing flow and transport processes in such a system.Mathematical modeling using a continuum approach involves developing conceptual models, incorporating the geometrical information of a given fracture-matrix system, and setting up the general mass and energy conservation equations for overlapping fracturematrix domains. The majority of the computational effort is used to solve the governing equations that couple fluid and heat flow with chemical migration either analytically or numerically. The key issue for simulating flow and transport in fractured rock is how fracture-matrix interactions under different conditions involving multiple processes are handled. The commonly us...

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“…Commonly used mathematical methods include: (1) an explicit discrete-fracture and matrix model (e.g., Snow, 1969;Stothoff and Or, 2000), (2) the dual-continuum method, including double-and multiporosity, dual-permeability, or the more general "multiple interacting continua"' (MINC) method (e.g., Barenblatt et al, 1960;Warren and Root, 1963; Kazemi, 1969; Pruess and Narasimhan, 1985; Wu and Pruess, 1988), and (3) the effective-continuum method (ECM) (e.g., Wu, 2000a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%