An Efficient Hybrid Model for Nonlinear Two-Phase Flow in Fractured Low-Permeability Reservoir

Abstract

The staged fracturing horizontal well has proven to be an attractive alternative for improving the development effect of a low permeability waterflood reservoir. Due to the coexistence of matrix, fracture, and horizontal wellbore, it remains a great challenge to accurately simulate the nonlinear flow behaviors in fractured porous media. Using a discrete fracture model to reduce the dimension of the fracture network, a two-parameter model is used to describe the nonlinear two-phase flow behavior, and the equivalent pipe flow equation is selected to estimate the horizontal wellbore pressure drop in the fractured low-permeability reservoir. A hybrid mathematical model for the nonlinear two-phase flow, including the effect of horizontal wellbore pressure drop in fractured porous media, is developed. A numerical scheme of the hybrid model is derived using the mimetic finite difference method and finite volume method. With a staggered five-spot flood system, the accuracy of the proposed model and the effect of fracture properties on nonlinear two-phase flow behaviors are further investigated. The results also show that with an increase of fracture length near injectors, the breakthrough time of injected water into the horizontal wellbore will be shorter, indicating a faster rise of the water cut, and a worse development effect. The impact of shortening fracture spacing is consistent with that of enlarging fracture length. Successful practice in modeling the complex waterflood behaviors for a 3-D heterogeneous reservoir provides powerful evidence for the practicability and reliability of our model.