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| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/T28959/01 |
| Title: |
Skeletonisation, entropic characterisation and conductivity-permeability relationship in porous media |
| Principal Investigator: |
Professor PR King
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| Other Investigators: |
Professor MJ Blunt
|
| Recognised Researchers: |
Dr R Blumenfeld
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| Project Partner: |
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| Department: |
Department of Earth Sciences |
| Organisation: |
Imperial College London |
| Abstract: |
The
aim of this proposal is to exploit recent progress in the fields of
granular and cellular systems for (1) the development of a new
characterisation method of porous media and (2) the development of
fundamental relations between the characteristics of the porescale
structure and macroscopic permeability and electrical conductivity.
This will be achieved by first developing a skeletonisation method
combined with a new fabric tensor that describes the local pore
structure, and then using it to construct an entropic description of
porous systems based on the Edwards formalism and the compactivity
concept. This description will then be used to relate the structure to
the permeability and conductivity on the porescale. Finally, these
relations will be coarse-grained to yield a macroscopic
structure-property relationship. The method proposed here is uniquely
suited to relate the conductivity and the flow permeability through
their derivation from the same microstructural characterisation. It
also makes it possible to understand from first principles the origin
of the broad permeability distribution usually measured in many porous
media. The project will involve a collaboration between Imperial
College and cambridge University and will be carried out in both
institutes. Some of the outcomes of this work are will be relevant to
multiphase flow and therefore of great interest to oil companies.
Indeed, some industrial support (50% RA time) has been secured. The
project represents good value for money in that its successful
completion will result in a major progress that will benefit several
communities both in science and engineering. |
| Starts: |
24 January 2005 |
Ends: |
23 January 2008 |
Value (£): |
293,952 |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research |
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| |
Multiphase Flow
Oil and Gas Extraction
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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