Pore Network Modelling

In pore-scale modelling, hydrocarbon recovery processes are simulated directly at the microscopic scale of the single pores without assuming a priori the traditional macroscopic equations (such as the famous Darcy law) of conventional reservoir simulation. This is done by creating a virtual rock made by pore bodies and pore throats of different sizes (the “geometry” of the rock) variably connected to each other (the “topology” of the rock) and then simulating in it the hydrocarbon recovery process of interest at the microscale, with the relevant physics implemented on a pore to pore basis.

This technology can provide difficult-to-measure multi-phase flow data (relative permeabilities and capillary pressures) in a fast and efficient way and can explore the sensitivity of these data to a variety of experimental conditions. But the scope for utilization of pore-scale network modelling is in fact much wider and extends to the study and optimization of recovery processes whose physical mechanisms are not yet understood (such as reservoir depressurisation) and to all those cases where laboratory investigation would be long, costly or technically very difficult.

Our main research partners in this project are University of Wyoming, Imperial College and Heriot-Watt University.

Pore network modelling of reservoir depressurisation: gas (in white) expands and displaces oil (in red) as reservoir pressure decreases