SPE 157147

Effect of Fracture Intensity and Longitudinal Dispersivity on Mass Transfer

in Fractured Reservoirs
A. Sharifi Haddad, SPE, H. Hassanzadeh, SPE, J. Abedi, SPE, Z. Chen, SPE, University of Calgary
Copyright 2012, Society of Petroleum Engineers
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPETT 2012 Energy Conference and Exhibition held in Port of Spain, Trinidad, 1113 June 2012.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract
Accurate modeling of fluid transport in fractured reservoirs is challenging because of their heterogeneous nature. One of the
sources of heterogeneity is the fracture spacing. In this study, an analytical model which describes the effect of fracture
intensity on mass transfer during an advective-dispersive process in dual porosity systems is introduced.
The mass transfer process is modeled using different distributions of the fracture network that results in a various range of
matrix-fracture connectivity inside the reservoir and resembles the variable flow path for the mass transport. In this work
probable fracture network distributions in the field are tested and the effect of the matrix block size distributions and
longitudinal dispersivity inside the fracture network on the transport of the injected tracer in the reservoir is obtained. The
model consists of an infinite acting reservoir with planar matrix blocks and a radially divergent continuous injection system.
Results show that using the breakthrough time of the injected tracer, the stored mass inside the reservoir as a function of
fracture intensity and the dispersivity coefficient can be estimated. Analytical solutions are provided and can be used to study
the tracer transport in fractured reservoirs with variable fracture intensity.
Introduction
Fractured reservoirs compromise about 30 percents of oil and gas resources around the world (Saidi, 1987). Current
simulators use the Warren and Root model (1963) to model the fluid dynamics in dual porosity reservoirs. In this model a
single rock matrix block size is assumed to represent the rock and fracture connectivity. Laboratory (Gwo et al., 1998; Hu
and Brusseau, 1995), field (Becker and Shapiro, 2000; Jardine et al., 1999), and modeling studies (Jelmert, 1995; Rasmusen
and Neretnieks, 1980; 1981; Sudicky and McLaren, 1992; Tang et al. 1981) have been conducted to analyze the behavior of
heterogeneous dual porosity reservoirs. In the field scale studies, as reported by many investigators (Haggerty and Gorelick,
1995; Jardine et al., 1999; Lee et al., 1992; Neretnieks, 1980) heterogeneity of geological formation affects the breakthrough
curves and the transport mechanisms in porous media due to the complexity of the flow path provided by micro and macro
fractures.
One of these sources which is not considered in the Warren and Root model is the fracture intensity in reservoirs. The degree
of fracture intensity determines the contact area between fractures and rock matrix blocks in the reservoirs. Consequently, it
affects the rate of the mass transfer inside a fractured reservoir. The effect of this heterogeneity has been investigated for the
pressure transient analysis (Belani and Jalali-Yazdi, 1988; Johns and Jalali-Yazdi, 1991). However, the mass transfer
problem still demands more investigations.
This study considers the effect of fracture intensity on the total accumulation of the injected tracer or catalyst in the fractured
reservoir, which can find applications in in-situ upgrading of heavy oil and geological characterization of naturally fractured
reservoirs.
Development of the model
A model of tracer (catalyst) transport in single-phase divergent radial flow with incompressible fluid is assumed to represent
the fluid dynamics inside the fractured reservoir. No-flow boundaries at the top and bottom of the reservoir and slab shape
rock matrix blocks are considered. We further assume continuous injection through the whole pay zone. Physical properties
of fluid and porous media remain constant. The transport mechanisms in the fracture network are advection and dispersion
while the diffusive transport in matrix blocks is the only transport mechanism. Figure 1 shows the schematic of the dual
porosity reservoir considered in this study.

SPE 157147

Figure 1: Physical system for the study of the tracer or catalyst injection into the fractured reservoir.

Material balance for fractures and rock matrix blocks provides the governing equations of the tracer (catalyst) transport in
fractured reservoirs. Solutions of the partial differential equations can be found by applying the corresponding initial and
boundary conditions. These solutions are based on the assumption of a single rock matrix block size of the Warren and Root
model. The diffusion-dominated transport of the tracer in the matrix zone can be presented by:
cm
2 cm
Dm
t
z 2

(1)

In this equation, c represents the concentration of the tracer or catalyst in the porous media, Dm is the effective molecular
diffusion coefficient in the rock matrix zone, z is the coordinate in the vertical direction, and time is shown by t.
Concentration inside the rock matrix block is a function of the concentration inside the adjacent fracture. Therefore, the
fracture concentration is required to evaluate the accumulation of the tracer (catalyst) inside the rock matrix block. One can
write the partial differential equation for the fracture domain as given by:
~
(2)
cf
c
f
cf f rvf cf
m
f

Df r

r r
r r

Porosity of the rock matrix block and fracture zones are defined by m and f, respectively. Df is the dispersion coefficient
and v is the pore velocity inside the fracture. The one-dimensional transport of the tracer or catalyst in the radial system is a
function of r, which is the radial coordinate. Both terms on the right-hand side of equation (2) are velocity-dependent. The
first term is dependent on the velocity through the dispersion coefficient and the second term is directly related to the
velocity. The dispersion coefficient can be represented as (Fried and Combarnous, 1971):
(3)
Df vf
Substitution for the velocity by the injection flow rate at the wellbore in the radial system and using the dispersion coefficient
given by equation (3) in equation (2) result in:
(4)

cf
c~m f qw cf f qw
f

cf
r r 2 f h r r r 2 f h

Introducing the dimensionless parameters into equations (1) and (4) gives:
2 cD m
z D2

(5)

c D m
t D

cDf Pe 1 2 cDf
1 cDf m 2 cDm

Pe

t D
rw rD rD2
rD rD
f hR z D

(6)
zD hR

in which the dimensionless parameters are defined by:

ci cm
ci cw
c cf
cD f i
ci cw
r
rD
rw
z
zD
rw
cDm

hR
tD

hb
rw
Dm t
rw2

(7.1)
(7.2)
(7.3)
(7.4)
(7.5)
(7.6)

where hb is the rock matrix block height. Note that i and w stand for initial and wellbore, respectively.

Pe qw / 2hf Dm

is

SPE 157147

called the Peclet number and shows the rate of advection of a constituent by the fluid flow to the rate of diffusion of that
constituent driven by the concentration gradient.
There are different methods to solve the coupled partial differential equations of mass transport. In this study the Laplace
transformation method is used. The real domain solution is then obtained using the Laplace numerical inversion methods.
Solutions of the tracer concentration in the rock matrix block and the fracture domains can be expressed as:
cDm

cosh s zD
cDf
cosh s hR / 2

(8)

rw
rw 2

(rD 1))
( ) ( s)rD
2

Ai 2
rw 2
[ ( s )]2 / 3

( ) f ( s)

sAi 2
2/3
[ ( s)]

(9)

exp(

cDf

where s is the Laplace domain variable, Ai is the Airy function, and (s) is defined as:
m
s
f
( s)

2 s

tanh s hR / 2

hR
rw
Pe

(10)

Once the mass concentration inside the fracture as a function of time is found, the concentration inside the rock matrix blocks
can be calculated using equation (8). Then equation (8) can be integrated over the rock matrix block height to give the
average tracer concentration in the rock matrix blocks at the specific radius and time. This can be performed as given by:
(h R / 2 )

2
c~Dm

Dm

dz D

(11)

hR

All the solutions are required to be inverted into the real time. Stehfest (1970) introduced a numerical algorithm to invert the
Laplace domain results into the real domain, which has been widely used for this purpose. Taking the advantage of this
method the results obtained in the Laplace domain (i.e., equations (9) and (11)) can be inverted into the real domain.
The obtained solutions are based on the assumption of a single rock matrix block size, in order to apply the heterogeneity
caused by the fracture intensity in the fractured reservoirs (Dyer, 1983; Segall, 1981). Appropriate probability density
functions must be combined with the previously derived solutions. In this study the commonly used probability density
functions (Rodriguez, 2001; 2002; Johns and Jalali-Yazdi, 1991) have been employed. They can be defined as:
(12)
a exp( ahD )
f D (hD )

exp( aFh ) exp( a)

f D (hD ) mhD b
1
f D ( hD )
1 Fh

(13)
(14)

for exponential, linear, and rectangular probability density functions, respectively, where hD=l/lmax and, Fh=lmin/lmax, with l as
the characteristic length. For a probability density function one can show:
1
(15)
f (h ) dh 1

Fh

The parameter which represents the fracture intensity in the equation of concentration of the tracer or catalyst inside the rock
matrix blocks and fractures is the height of the rock matrix blocks. Therefore, incorporating the fracture intensity by the use
of the probability density function can be accomplished by performing the following integral:
1
(16)
c~ f (h )c~ dh
Dm

Dm

Fh

In the following section, the model described here is used to study the effect of dispersivity and fracture intensity on the
accumulation of the injected tracer or catalyst inside the reservoir.
Results and discussion
The effect of the dispersivity and fracture intensity are discussed in this section. Figure 2 shows the effect of the fracture
intensity on the concentration of the tracer (catalyst) in the rock matrix blocks at rD=200 (corresponding to 10 meters far from
the injection point). As the fracture intensity increases (i.e., exponential pdf with a large positive exponential constant or
linear pdf with a negative slope) the average tracer concentration inside the rock matrix blocks increases. The Warren and
Root model with hR=6 corresponds to the highest number of fractures per unit volume of the reservoir rock. Therefore, the
average concentration of the injected tracer inside the rock matrix blocks in this case remains high as compared to other cases
with a lower number of fractures in the same volume of the reservoir rock. The exponential probability density function with
an exponential constant of a equals to 5 is the next realization with the highest number of fractures. The lowest average
concentration belongs to the Warrant and Root model with hR=60, which includes large rock matrix blocks and consequently

SPE 157147

Dimensionless average matrix concentration

the lowest number of fractures per unit volume of the rock. Other distributions have their corresponding curves located
between the two extreme cases of the Warrant and Root model.

Warren and Root model, hR=6

1.0

Exponential pdf a=5

Linear pdf m = -100/81
Rectangular pdf
Linear pdf m = 100/81
Exponential pdf a = -5
Warren and Root model, hR=60

0.8

0.6

Small blocks
0.4

m/f=5
1 m
Pe=10000
rD=200

Large blocks

0.2

0.0
1

10

100

1000

Dimensionless time

Figure 2: Effect of different fracture inensities on the average mass concentration inside the rock matrix blocks.

As the fracture spacing increases the contact surface available for the mass transfer between the fracture and rock matrix
blocks decreases; consequently, the tracer concentration inside the rock matrix blocks for the same period of time decreases.
Performing the integration over the whole domain (test volume) from the wellbore to the radius of investigation (e.g., the
monitoring well at rD=200) results in the accumulation of the tracer or catalyst inside the rock matrix blocks as given by:
r

~ (2rh) dr
m
m

(17)

rw

c wVT

Dimensionless accumulation of tracer inside the reservoir

Figure 3 describes the accumulation of the tracer or catalyst in the test volume for different fracture intensities. It can be seen
that for smaller blocks, the accumulation of the tracer or catalyst in the test volume is higher as compared to sparse fracture
systems.
0.5
Warren and Root model, hR = 6
Exponential pdf a = 5
Linear pdf m = -100/81
Rectangular pdf
Linear pdf m = 100/81
Exponential pdf a = -5
Warren and Root model, hR=60

0.4

0.3

m/f=5
1 m
Pe=10000
rD=200

0.2

0.1

0.0
0

Dimensionless time

Figure 3: Effect of the fracture intensity on the accumulation of the tracer (catalyst) in the reservoir.

Figure 4 shows the tracer or catalyst accumulation inside the reservoir for different dispersivities. Since dispersion in the
radial direction spreads the tracer into a larger volume of the reservoir, it provides a larger number of matrix blocks with the
tracer and, therefore, enhances the mass transfer between the matrix blocks and fractures.

Dimensionless accumulation of tracer inside the reservoir

SPE 157147

1.0

m/f=5

= 20 m
= 10 m
=5m
=1m
= 0.5 m

0.8

hR
Pe=10000
rD=200

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0

Dimensionless time

Figure 4: Effect of dispersivity on the accumulation of tracer (catalyst) inside the reservoir, Warren and Root model.

Dimensionless accumulation of tracer inside the reservoir

Figures 5 and 6 are obtained for fracture intensity with the exponential probability density functions. Results show that as the
parameter a in the exponential pdf increases from negative to positive numbers (sparsely to intensely fractured rocks) the
accumulation of the tracer (catalyst) inside the reservoir increases. The results shown in Figure 5 reveal that the Peclet
number has a very notable effect on the accumulation of the tracer when the rock matrix blocks have different distributions.
Figure 6 shows that mass transfer between matrix and fracture is not sensitive to the dispersivity in sparsely fractured
systems. However, the mass transfer shows some sensitivity in the case of intensely fractured systems.
0.6
5

m/f=5
0.5

0.4

=
Pe

1 m
tD=5
rD=200

10

0.3

Pe = 10

0.2

Pe = 5 x103

0.1

Pe = 103
0.0
-20

large blocks

-10

10

20

small blocks

Figure 5: Effect of Peclet number on the accumulation of tracer (catalyst) inside the heterogeneous reservoir with exponential probability
density function.

SPE 157147

Dimensionless accumulation of tracer inside the reservoir

0.6
=1m
=5m
= 10 m
= 20 m

0.5

0.4

m/f=5
Pe104
tD=5
rD=200

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0
-20

-10

large blocks

10

20

small blocks

Figure 6: Effect of the dispersivity on the accumulation of tracer (catalyst) inside the heterogeneous reservoir with exponential probability
density function.

Dimensionless accumulation of tracer inside the reservoir

The same observations made above can be confirmed for the linear and rectangular probability density functions. Figures 7
and 8 are related to the linear and rectangular (m=0) probability density functions, respectively. As the m value decreases
from positive to negative numbers (i.e., larger to smaller rock matrix blocks) again there is an increase in the accumulation of
the tracer (catalyst) inside the reservoir. Sensitivity of mass transfer between matrix and fracture to the dispersivity for such
heterogeneities is not significant.
0.6

m/f=5
1m
tD=5
rD=200

0.5

0.4

0.3

Pe = 1

0.2

Pe = 10 4

05

Pe = 5 x103
0.1

Pe = 103
0.0
-3

-2

-1

small blocks

large blocks

Dimensionless accumulation of tracer inside the reservoir

Figure 7: Effect of Peclet number on the accumulation of tracer (catalyst) inside the heterogeneous reservoir with linear (rectangular m= 0)
probability density function.

0.30

m/f=5

=1m
=5m
= 10 m
= 20 m

0.25

Pe104
tD=5
rD=200

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

0.00
-3

-2

small blocks

-1

large blocks

Figure 8: Effect of the dispersivity on the accumulation of tracer (catalyst) inside the heterogeneous reservoir with linear (rectangular m= 0)
probability density function.

SPE 157147

Summary and conclusions

In this study it was shown that heterogeneity of a fractured reservoir has a profound effect on the rate of mass transfer
between the fracture network and rock matrix blocks. One of the heterogeneity sources is related to the variable fracture
intensity in porous media. The effect of fracture intensity was incorporated by developing the equations which included the
probability density functions for variable matrix rock blocks or fracture intensities. The results demonstrated that the smaller
the rock matrix blocks, the higher accumulation of the tracer (catalyst) inside the reservoir. In addition to the study of the
fracture intensity, the effect of dispersivity and the Peclet number are also investigated. The impact of the Peclet number was
more recognizable than dispersivity.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank the financial supports of the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada,
Computer Modeling Group Ltd., NSERC/AIEES/Foundation CMG, AITF, and the Alberta Energy Research Institute. The
first author is thankful for the help and comments of Peter P. Valk, Texas A & M University and Danial Kaviani, University
of Calgary.
Nomenclature
a
=
b
=
c
=
=
c~
~
c
=
c
=
D
=
f
=
Fh
=
h
=
m
=
M
=
Pe
=
q
=
r
=
s
=
t
=
V
=
z
=

exponential probability constant [-]

intercept in the linear probability density function [-]
tracer concentration [ML-3]
average tracer concentration over the block height [ML-3]
average tracer concentration over the domain [ML-3]
tracer concentration in the Laplace domain [-]
molecular diffusion coefficient [L2 T-1]
function [-]
rock matrix block height ratio [-]
block height [L]
linear probability constant [-]
dimensionless accumulation of tracer [-]
Peclet number [-]
injection rate per repetitive element [L-3T-1]
radius from the wellbore [L]
Laplace variable [-]
time [T]
volume of the reservoir [L3]
vertical coordinate []

Greek

dispersivity [L]
porosity, fraction [-]

Subscripts
D
=
f
=
i
=
m
=
max
=
min
=
R
=
T
=
w
=

dimensionless
fracture
initial
matrix
maximum
minimum
ratio
test
wellbore

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SPE 157147

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