MASS TRANSPORT PROCESSES IN POROUS MEDIA

Mass transport processes in porous media are processes that move solutes and
other particles through the pores existing in a solid structure such as the
hydrocarbon reservoir bed. Such bed can either be homogenous or heterogeneous
in nature. Solute transport tends to move particles from the point (source) where
they are generated, resulting from factors that are usually distant from the solute
source.
The driving forces of solute movement depend on the nature of flow, geometry and
properties of solid structure and the prevailing bulk solvent responsible for the flow.
Convective solute movement results from the average velocity of bulk molecules
and diffusive solute movement results from the random velocity of individual
particles compared to the mean velocity of the whole fluid. In porous media, flow
processes can results from the bulk movement of solute (convective process) and
the particle movement of solute (diffusive process).

CONVECTIVE TRANSPORT PROCESS (BULK SOLUTE MOTION)

Convective transport is mass transport due to bulk motion of molecules, the
movement of aggregated molecules in a moving fluid resulting in transport of
reasonably macroscopic size of solute particles. Convective transport flow can be
classify as free (natural) convective flow and forced convective flow.

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FREE CONVECTION
Natural subsurface activities such as underground movement usually results in
temperature change in the reservoir media due to molecular movement and
agitation. The rise in temperature will affect the fluid density over time hence
resulting into relative buoyancy of fluid with heavier components falling and
clogging together thereby causing bulk movement of components. This resulting
process is referred to as natural convection. Natural convection is more rapid with
a higher variation in density among particles of different molecular structures,
gravity drive and media pore size.
FORCED CONVECTION
In forced convection, fluid movements are due to external forces such as drilling
and production activities and pumping through the hydrocarbon bed. The external
activities will likely induce temperature change through the subsurface hence
resulting to temperature gradient over a large distance. As a result, particles
properties will be affected leading to segregation of size and buoyancy. The
heavier particles come together and move with fluid transport.
CONVECTIVE TRANSPORT MODEL
In convective movement, the solute bulk molecules move passively at an average
velocity as the prevailing fluid, this can be approximated by Darcy's law considering
a porous system.
DARCY FLOW MODEL
Darcy's law gives an approximate but simple proportional relationship between the
instantaneous discharge rate through a porous system, the viscosity of the fluid
and the pressure gradient over the distance.
The Darcy’s flow model through a single porous media can be summarized as

 No flow can occur without a pressure gradient over distance

 Flow usually occur from high pressure to low pressure end
 Discharge rate is a function of pressure gradient dimension

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Hence mathematically,

 A( pa  pb )
Q
L (1)

Q  mole per time, mol/s  = total discharge

 (m 2 )  intrinsic permeabilityof the medium
A(m 2 )  the cross  sectional area to flow
pa  pb ( Pa )  total pressure drop
 ( Pa.s )  viscosity
L(m)  length over which the pressure drop is taking place
Dividing both sides of equation 1 with area A

 ( pa  pb )
J
L (2)

Where J is the flux (mol/m2s), p = pressure gradient (pa/m)

J is referred to as Darcy Flux which can be used to estimate the velocity of the fluid
transport as

q
v
 (3)
v = velocity of fluid in porous media
 = porosity

The fluid velocity is the velocity a tracer can experience when carried through the
fluid.
In two or more dimension equation 2 can be written


J p
 (4)

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DIFFUSIVE TRANSPORT PROCESS (MOLECULAR SOLUTE MOTION)
Diffusive transport arises from random motions of solute particles due to dispersion
resulting from surface washing of solid sediments. It can occur due to the random
motion of molecules in the fluid and due to eddies in turbulent flow. Diffusions from
the dispersed molecular motion called molecular diffusion are prevalent in
hydrocarbon reservoir due to depletion of the system by various activities. Diffusion
occurs in a fluidized porous media, hence the structure, porosity and pore size of
the porous medium determines space available for diffusion.
Two types of mathematical model can be used to approximate diffusive flow in
porous media; the first is empirical determination of mass transfer coefficient. This
assumes that flux is proportional to concentration movement. The second (Fick’s
Law) assumes mass flux is proportional to concentration gradient. In this work
Fick’s Law will be used to approximate the diffusive movement of particles in the
porous media.

FICK’S FLOW MODEL (FICK’S LAW)

Fick’s relates diffusive transport to the concentration gradient of solute assuming a
steady state; that flux (solute movement) moves from high concentration to low
concentration, with a magnitude proportional to the concentration gradient.

C
Let’s consider a flux J through a medium with concentration gradient . The
x
Fick’s Law can be written as

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 C
J  D
x (5)
Where
mol
J( ) = Flux
m2 s

m2
-D ( ) = Diffusivity coefficient
s
C mol
( ) = Concentration gradient
x m3 m

Considering two or more dimensional flow

J  DC (6)
Where J is the diffusion flux vector

FICK’S DIFFUSIVITY COEFFICIENT

A proportionality factor in Fick’s Law is called Diffusion coefficient. It’s a measure of
the proportionality of the mass of a substance (m) diffusing in time (t) through a
medium to the concentration gradient. It determines the mass of the substance that
can diffuse through a unit area per time at a unit concentration gradient.
Diffusion coefficient (constant) depends on the molecular size and other properties
of the media, properties of the solute and that of the prevailing fluid. It can likewise
be a function of temperature and pressure of the system.

Effective diffusivity account that diffusion drives flow through porous media due to
the formation of sediment blocks thereby creating several connected pathways.

Diffusivity coefficients constant are usually not readily available, method of

estimating the coefficients are empirical in nature. Laboratory experiments or curve

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fitting parameters with the knowledge of the surrounding, fluid and solute
properties are used in coefficient estimation.

Most of the correlations available follow a general structure as below.

De  wDd (m2/s) (7)

Where De is the effective diffusivity coefficient

Dd is the bulk diffusion coefficient
w is the scaling factor accounting for the porous and physical structure of
the system.
Effective diffusion coefficient can be affected by several physical properties of the
medium the most common is porosity of the structure. The effective diffusion
coefficient increase with increase in porosity.
Two modified equations for the effective diffusivity coefficient is given below.
Greenkorn Model (1983)

De   nDd (m2/s) (8)

where  is an empirical value less than one, n is the porosity

Greenkorn and Kissler (1972)

n
De  Dd (m2/s)
 (9)

where  is tortuosity (the property of a media being tortuous)

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MATHEMATICAL MODEL FORMULATION
MODEL ASSUMPTIONS
The model development approach engaged in this work for predicting sand
transport is subject to the following assumptions.
a. The reservoir and produced fluid exist in single phase i.e. oil reservoir. This
realistic assumption simplified the existence of composite diffusivity
coefficient and other physical properties affecting flow in the system.

b. No chemical reactions or interactions among solute particles and prevailing

fluid. Chemical change can influence flow hence changes in number of
existing components, properties of components and the physical structure of
the media. Hence a non-reactive reservoir is assumed to maintain chemical
properties of all molecules.
c. The sediment sand transports are fully due to both particle diffusion and
convective movement in reservoir fluid.
d. The bulk (convective transport) velocity of the sediment is same as the
velocity of the prevailing fluid in the reservoir, i.e. the solute (sand) transport
obeys the Darcy’s Law of fluid flow in porous media.
e. The ratio of reservoir sand particle size to the bed pore space is infinitesimal
small, i.e. sand particles can be carried successfully by fluid movement
through pore spaces. This allows for particles diffusion through the pores
(Fick’s Law).

MODEL DEVELOPMENT
CONSERVATION LAW OF MASS (CONTINUITY EQUATION)
Considering a control volume of the solute suspended in the fluid flowing through
pore space in the reservoir bed to the producing well in x, y, z direction. If we
consider sand source Q (packing surface) and solute flux term J

The conservative law of mass M and continuity of solute flow can be written as
Source + Input – Output = Accumulation + Generation (no reacting terms)

Qs   Jinput   J output   J accummulation (10)

where Q is a source.

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 z

y
x

Hence considering inflow (Ji) and outflow (Ji+∆i) from control volume, where i is the
direction parameter x, y, z, we have

Ct
( J x  J x x )yz  ( J y  J y y )xz  Qs xyz  xyz
t (11)

Where
mol
J( ) is flux term for convective and diffusive particle movement.
m2 s

mol
Qs ( ) is the source in molar rate.
m3 s

mol
Ct ( ) is the molar concentration of sand sediment accumulation.
m3

xyz are distance in measure in meters.

Dividing through by xyz

J x  J x x J  J y y Ct

 y  Qs 
x y t (12)

Rearranging into differential equation we have

Ct  J J 
     Qs (13)
t  x y 
Knowing that the primary mechanism of flow of sand in the fluidized bed includes
convective (movement with bulk fluid) and diffusive (molecular dispersion), hence
the flux term J in equation (13) above represent the summation of flow mechanism
i.e. convective and diffusive process. Hence equation (13) can be expanded to
accommodate the two processes.

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 Ct   J J   J J  
       Qs
t   x y  
 x y

  (14)
 convective. flow diffussive. flow 

If we assume a laminar continuous steady state flow, the convective and diffusive
flow can be approximately represented with Darcy’s and Fick’s model equation.
Hence in simple term

Ct
 J xy  Qs
t (15)

J xy    J xy.convective. flow  J xy.diffusive. flow  (16)

MODEL EXPANSION WITH DARCY’S AND FICK’S LAW

Recall Darcy’s from eqn 2

 ( pa  pb )
J
L
which can be rewritten in differential form as

 P
Jc  
 l (17)

Also recall Fick’s from eqn 5

C
Jd  D
x
Insert eqn 5 and 17 in 14

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Ct   P   P  C C
 [ ( )  ( )]  [ ( D t )  ( D t )]  Qs
t x  lx y  l y x xx x y
(18)

Ct  2 P  2 P  2Ct  2Ct

[  ]  [ D 2  D 2 ]  Qs
t  xlx  yl y x y (19)

C t   2 P 2 P  2Ct  2Ct
 [  ]  D[ 2  2 ]  Qs
t  xlx yl y x y (20)

But P   gl (21)

Where l is the characteristic length for flow

P
 g
Hence
l (pressure gradient) (22)

Insert eqn 22 in 20

Ct   g  g  2Ct  2Ct

 [  ]  D[ 2  2 ]  Qs
t  x y x y (23)

Ct g    2Ct  2Ct

 [  ]  D[ 2  2 ]  Qs
t  x y x y (24)

But   C * Mm (25)

Where C (mol/m3) concentration, Mm (kg/mol) molar mass of solute

Insert eqn 25 in 24

Ct g Mm Ct Ct  2Ct  2Ct

 [  ]  D[ 2  2 ]  Qs
t  x y x y (26)

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Equation 26 is a partial differential mathematical model equation that fully
describes the convective diffusive sand transport with in reservoir of producing
well. The left term is the rate concentration of solute, first term at the right hand
side RHS is the convective flow term while the second term represent the diffusive
flow term. The last term is the solute source term.
Where
g is the acceleration due to gravity
 is the permeability of porous components
 is the viscosity of fluid

Mm is the solute molar mass

D is the effective diffusivity coefficient
Ct is the solute concentration at time t
x and y are direction components
Qs is the source term

Equation 26 can be written in this form

Ct Ct Ct  2Ct  2Ct

 A[  ]  B[ 2  2 ]  Qs
t x y x y (27)

g Mm
A ,B  D
Where

A more simplified form for bi-directional flow is

g Mm
Ct  (Ct ( x )  Ct ( y ) )  DC
 (28)

2 2
 2  2
Where
x y (29)

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MATHEMATICAL MODEL CHECK

CHECK 1: STANDARD DIFFUSION AND TRANSPORT PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL

EQUATION

Mathematical models can be put under quick check to see if such formulation
agrees with existing standard forms, properties or dimensions. We provide a quick
check for the developed model below.

Since the formulated model is a convective diffusive flow equation then the model
equation must be a function of the two processes hence driven by both. Also the
standard form of convective PDE is referred to as transport equation while that of
diffusive most conform to the standard diffusion PDE.

From eqn 27

Ct Ct Ct  2Ct  2Ct

 A[  ]  B[ 2  2 ]  Qs
t x y x y
Assuming no convective flow (Flow due to diffusion only)

C C
A[  ]0

x y (30)

Hence eqn 27 without the source term becomes

C  2C  2C
 B[ 2  2 ]
t x y (31)

In a simplified form as

Ct  C (32)

This conform to the standard diffusion partial differential equation form

ut  u (33)

Assuming no diffusion (Flow due to convection only)

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  2C  2C
B[ 2  2 ]  0
x y (34)

Hence eqn 27 without the source term becomes

C C C
 A[  ]
t x y (35)

In a simplified form as

Ct  C x  C y (36)

This conform to the standard transport (convective) equation form

ut  u x (Single direction) (37)

We can conclude that equation 27 fully describes convective and diffusive

transport of sand through reservoir of producing wells.

Ct Ct Ct  2Ct  2Ct

 A[  ]  B[ 2  2 ]  Qs
t x y x y

SINGLE PHASE UNIDIRECTIONAL FLOW

The governing equations for single phase flow in homogenous mixture in a porous
system can be described by the continuity equation including Darcy and Fick Law
as similar to the two phase flow above. Here we will make our assumptions of
single phase, unidirectional flow, implying that flow only occur in a single direction
too i.e. flow is occurs in x direction only.

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Hence the flow in y component or direction of the mathematical model will be
negligible.

Rewritten equation 27 in one direction (x) as the final simplified model

C C  2C
A  B 2  Qs
t x x (38)

g Mm
A ,B  D
Where

With values of all constants and coefficients known or estimated, reliable boundary
conditions selected equation 38 can be evaluated using the explicit finite difference
method FDM.
CHECK 2: PECLET NUMBER (Pe) FOR MASS TRANSPORT
The Peclet number (a dimensionless) which is the product of Reynolds Re and
Schmidt Sc numbers can be used to investigate the nature and type of flow
prevalent in a mass transport process. It can be used to predict the stability of the
system solutions.

convective _ mass _ transport

Pe   Re* Sc (39)
diffusion _ mass _ transport

 vl 
Pe  *
 D (for porous media) (40)

Where
 is the fluid density

 is dynamic viscosity

v is fluid velocity
l is characteristic length of sediment
D is the diffusivity coefficient

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 vl
Hence Pe  (41)
D
Equation 41 gives the expression for Peclet number for mass transport as the
product of velocity and characteristic length divided by diffusivity coefficient.
Recall from eqn 39 and 38

convective _ mass _ transport

Pe  (42)
diffusion _ mass _ transport

C C  2C
A  B 2  Qs
t x x
C
A
Pe  x
 2C (43)
B 2
x
But these derivatives are expressing difference in concentration C, over a distance
x, we can calculate it within large range i.e.

C
A AC
Pe  x  x
C BC
B x2 (44)
( x) x
C
A AC
Pe  x  x
C BC
B x2 (45)
( x) x

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Hence

Pe  Ax
B (46)

This agrees with equation 41 where

V (velocity term) = A (composite function)
L (length) = x (distance)
D = B (diffusivity coefficient)
The equation above shows that at higher velocity Pe becomes very large thereby
making B (diffusivity) negligible. Hence at high Pe convective flow will be dominant
or exist alone. High velocity tends to favor the bulk movement of solute in the
medium.
With high diffusivity value or at very low velocity, the Pe becomes very small
thereby making convective transport negligible. Hence diffusion is dominant in the
transport medium. This explains why solute tends to move as separate particles in
fluid with low velocity. The small velocity can easily carry particles rather than bulk
solute.
For a convective diffusive transport, a Peclet no within this range is desire.
0.02>Pe<8
Hence

g Mm
x
0.02   8
D (47)

With a proper selection of Pe number from equation 47, the mathematical model
developed in equation 38 can be solved.
In this work the explicit finite difference method has been selected for numerical
expansion and analysis of the model after which a computer algorithm and
programs will be develop to provide approximate solution for the formulated model.

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