Work

Three-Dimensional Porous Media Design and Validation for Fluid Flow Applications in Hydrocarbon Reservoirs

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study introduces a computational method for designing realistic, geometrically controlled three-dimensional (3-D) micromodels of porous media to investigate fluid flow in hydrocarbon reservoirs. The methodology utilizes a virtual framework of cubes where an arbitrary, continuous 3-D pore network is generated via two-dimensional (2-D) sketches. A key strength of this deterministic, cube-by-cube approach is the ability to independently control porosity and permeability by adjusting channel size and connectivity, facilitating the systematic study of spatial heterogeneity. Six digital models were developed with porosities ranging from 18.4% to 44.4%. Unlike traditional stochastic algorithms, this explicit geometric control enabled the accurate extraction of pore volume distributions and the establishment of a robust power-law relationship between localized porosity and specific surface area. Statistical analysis confirmed a linear correlation between porosity and pore dimensions. While focusing on design and validation, these models are 3-D printable and provide exact boundary conditions for CFD simulations. Single-phase simulations confirmed the capability to decouple absolute permeability from porosity. Consequently, this framework bridges the gap between numerical simulations and physical laboratory experiments to optimize Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) processes.

Source: Micromachines

DOI: 10.3390/mi17040430

Authors: Omer A. Omer, Khaled S. Al-Salem, Zeyad Almutairi

Institution: King Saud University

Language: English

Topic: Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques

Subfield: Ocean Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,534

Funder: King Saud University