Fluid Flow Modeling in Tight Carboniferous Sandstone

Permeability of rock samples was the object of analysis. In the standard approach permeability values are determined from the laboratory measurements using permeameters. There are distinct limitations for used equipment for such measurements. In the presented case rock permeability was calculated by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The simulation was also promoted as the effective method for determining parameters of the fluid flow through the pore space. The microtomographic (micro-CT) image was the base to generate the numerical mesh reflecting the micro-structure of the Carboniferous sandstone sample which was divided into the pore system and the skeleton. Liquid (water) flow through the pore system was analyzed using the Finite Volume Method as a discretization method of the Navier-Stokes equation. Parameters of the fluid flow depended on the boundary conditions (pressures difference) and fluid properties were the results of modeling. At the final stage of simulation permeability calculation was performed using the modified Darcy equation.