مشخصات پژوهش

Accurately simulating fluid flow in faulted hydrocarbon reservoirs remains a significant challenge due to the complex interactions between mechanical deformation and multiphase fluid dynamics. This study introduces a novel two-dimensional, two-phase hydromechanical model that incorporates zero-thickness interface elements to represent faults within a finite element framework. The model solves the coupled equations for mass and momentum conservation along with structural mechanics for both fluid and solid phases. Fluid pore pressure and solid displacement are considered the primary unknowns, while fluid velocity and stress fields are treated as secondary variables. The governing equations are implemented using the standard Galerkin finite element method, with the zero-thickness interface element applied in both single- and double-nodal configurations to represent the fault geometry. A custom MATLAB code is developed to solve the discretized equations using a fully integrated approach. One of the key outcomes of this research is the formulation and discretization of the governing equations for two-phase flow within zero-thickness interface elements, including a generalization for double-nodal elements with a mid-plane representation to account for variations in displacement and pressure fields. The model's robustness is demonstrated through simulations of faulted domains in both longitudinal and transverse directions. The results confirm the capability and accuracy of the proposed model in capturing complex hydromechanical interactions in faulted porous media.