Finite element modelling of three‐phase flow in deforming saturated oil reservoirs

Abstract

Abstract A numerical simulation is presented for three‐dimensional three‐phase fluid flow in a deforming saturated oil reservoir. The mathematical formulation describes a fully coupled governing equation systen which consists of the equilibrium and continuity equations for three immiscible fluids flowing in a porous medium. An elastoplastic soil model, based on a Mohr–Coulomb yield surface, is used. The finite element method is applied to obtain simultaneous solutions to the governing equations where displacement and fluid pressures are the primary unknowns. The final discretized equations are solved by a direct solver using fully implicit procedures. The developed model is used to investigate the problems of three‐phase fluid flow in a deforming saturated oil reservoir.