SATURATED OIL-WATER SIMULATION, IMPES SOLUTION

Author: Professor Jon Kleppe

Assistant producers:
Farrokh Shoaei
Khayyam Farzullayev

NTNU
 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Two phase system (oil – water)

Two phase system (
oil – water)
 The equations for multi-phase flow :
∂ k .k rl −Pl
Oil-Water Relative P − (ρ l ul )= ∂ (φρ l Sl ) ul = − l = o, w, g
ermeabilities and C ∂x ∂t − l −x
apillary Pressure

Where:
Discretization of F
low Equations
Pcow = Po − Pw
Pcog = Pg − Po
−S
Upstream mobility
term l =1
l = o, w, g

Expansion of Discre
tized equations
 flow equations for the two phases flow with substituting Darcy's equations:

Boundary
Conditions − ⎛ k .k rw −Pw ⎞ − ⎛φS w ⎞ − ⎛ k .k ro −Po ⎞ − ⎛φS ⎞
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − q − = ⎜ ⎟ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − q o− = ⎜⎜ o ⎟⎟
−t ⎜⎝ Bw ⎟⎠
w
−x ⎝ μ w Bw −x ⎠ −x ⎝ μ o Bo −x ⎠ −t ⎝ Bo ⎠
IMPES Method

Where:
Limitations of the
IMPES method Pw = Po − Pcow
So + Sw = 1

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Oil-Water Relative Permeabilities

Two phase system (
oil – water) and Capillary Pressure
Oil-Water Relative P  most processes of interest, involve displacement of oil by water, or imbibition.
ermeabilities and C
apillary Pressure
 the initial saturations present in the rock will normally be the result of a drainage process
at the time of oil accumulation.
Discretization of F
low Equations
 Drainage process:  Imbibition process:
Upstream mobility
term
SW = 1 SW =SWir
oil water
Expansion of Discre
tized equations
Pc Pc
Kr
Kr
Boundary
Conditions

water
IMPES Method water
oil
oil
Pcd
Limitations of the
Sw Sw
IMPES method
Swir 1 Swir 1 Swir 1-Sor Swir 1-Sor
Sw Sw

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Discretization of Flow Equations

Two phase system (
oil – water)  We will use similar approximations for the two-phase equations as we did for one
phase flow.
Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C  Left side flow terms:
apillary Pressure − ⎛ k .k ro −Po ⎞
⎜ ⎟ − Txo i + 1 ( Po i +1 − Po i ) + Txo i − 1 ( Po i −1 − Po i )
−x ⎜⎝ − o Bo −x ⎟⎠i 2 2

Discretization of F
low Equations − ⎛ k .k rw −Pw ⎞
⎜ ⎟ − Txw i + 1 ( Pw i +1 − Pw i ) + Txw i − 1 ( Pw i −1 − Pw i )
−x ⎜⎝ − w Bw −x ⎟⎠i 2 2

Upstream mobility
term
Where:
Expansion of Discre
tized equations 2λ o i + 1
– Oil transmissibility: Txoi + 1 = 2

2
⎛ −xi +1 −xi ⎞
Boundary −xi ⎜
⎜ k + ⎟
Conditions ⎝ i +1 ki ⎟
⎠
k ro
IMPES Method – Oil mobility: −o =
μ o Bo

Limitations of the
IMPES method  The mobility term is now a function of saturation in addition to pressure. This will have
significance for the evaluation of the term in discrete form.

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Upstream mobility term

Two phase system (
oil – water)
 Because of the strong saturation dependencies of the two-phase mobility terms, the
solution of the equations will be much more influenced by the evaluation of this term
Oil-Water Relative P than in the case of one phase flow.
ermeabilities and C
apillary Pressure

Discretization of F Buckley-Leverett solution:

low Equations

Upstream mobility
term QW

Sw
Expansion of Discre
tized equations 1

Boundary 1-Sor
Conditions
B.L with PC = 0
IMPES Method

Swir
Limitations of the
IMPES method
x

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

 In simulating this process, using a discrete grid block system, the results are very much
Two phase system ( dependent upon the way the mobility term is approximated.
oil – water)
 Flow of oil between blocks i and i+1:
Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C – Upstream selection: −o i + 1 = −o i
apillary Pressure 2

Discretization of F λ oi+ 1 =
(Δxi λ oi + Δxi+1λ oi+1 )
low Equations – weighted average selection: 2
(Δxi + Δxi +1 )
Upstream mobility
term
QW
Expansion of Discre
Sw
tized equations
1
Boundary
Conditions 1-Sor
B.L (PC = 0)

IMPES Method Upstream

Weighted average
Limitations of the Swir
IMPES method
x

In reservoir simulation, upstream mobilities are normally used.

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

 The deviation from the exact solution depends on the grid block sizes used.
Two phase system (
oil – water)  For very small grid blocks, the differences between the solutions may become negligible.

Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C Sw
apillary Pressure
1

Discretization of F 1-Sor
low Equations B.L (PC = 0)
Small grid blocks
Upstream mobility
term Large grid blocks
Swir
Expansion of Discre
tized equations
x

Boundary
Conditions  The flow rate of oil out of any grid block depends primarily on the relative permeability
to oil in that grid block.
IMPES Method
 If the mobility selection is the weighted average, the block i may actually have reached
residual oil saturation, while the mobility of block i+1 still is greater than zero.
Limitations of the
IMPES method
 For small grid block sizes, the error involved may be small, but for blocks of practical
sizes, it becomes a significant problem.

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Expansion of Discretized equations

Two phase system (
oil – water)  The right hand side of the oil equation:

− ⎛φS o ⎞ φ −S o −⎛φ ⎞
Oil-Water Relative P ⎜ ⎟ = + S ⎜
⎜B ⎟
−t ⎜ ⎟ B −t ⎟
o
ermeabilities and C B
⎝ o ⎠ o −t ⎝ o⎠
apillary Pressure
 By:
Discretization of F
low Equations
– Replacing oil saturation by water saturation.
– Use a standard backward approximation of the time derivative.
Upstream mobility
term
the right hand side of the oil equation thus may be written as:
Expansion of Discre
tized equations − ⎛−S o ⎞
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − Cpooi ( Poi − Poit ) + Cswoi ( Swi − Swit )
−t ⎝ Bo ⎠i
Boundary
Conditions
Where:
IMPES Method −i (1 − Swi ) ⎡ cr d (1 / Bo) ⎤
Cpooi = ⎢Bo + dPo ⎥
−t ⎣ ⎦i
Limitations of the
IMPES method
−i
Cswoi = −
Boi −ti

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

 The right hand side of the water equation:

Two phase system (
oil – water)
− ⎛φS w ⎞ φ −Sw −⎛φ ⎞
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = + Sw ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
Oil-Water Relative P −t ⎝ Bw ⎠ Bw −t −t ⎝ Bw ⎠
ermeabilities and C
apillary Pressure  By:

Discretization of F
low Equations – expression the second term
– Since capillary pressure is a function of water saturation only
Upstream mobility – Using the one phase terms and standard difference approximations for the
term derivatives

Expansion of Discre
tized equations
the right side of the water equation becomes:

Boundary − ⎛−S w ⎞
Conditions ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − Cpowi ( Poi − Poit ) + Cswwi ( Swi − Swit )
−t ⎝ Bw ⎠i
IMPES Method Where:

−i Sw i ⎡ c r d (1 / Bw ) ⎤
Limitations of the
Cpow i = ⎢ + ⎥
−t ⎣ Bo dPw ⎦i
IMPES method
−i ⎛ dPcow ⎞
C swwi = −⎜ ⎟
⎟ C powi
Bwi −t i ⎜ dS
⎝ w ⎠i

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Two phase system (

oil – water) The discrete forms of the oil and water equations

 Oil equation:

( ) ( )
Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C Txoi + 1 (Poi +1 − Poi )+ Txoi − 1 (Poi −1 − Poi )− qoi′ = Cpooi Poi − Poit + Cswoi Swi − Swit
apillary Pressure 2 2

Discretization of F
Where:
low Equations
2λ oi + 1 2λ oi − 1
Txoi + 1 = 2
Txoi − 1 = 2

Upstream mobility 2
⎛ −x −x ⎞ 2
⎛ −xi −1 −xi ⎞
term −xi ⎜⎜ i +1 + i ⎟⎟ −xi ⎜
⎜k + k ⎟ ⎟
⎝ ki +1 ki ⎠ ⎝ i −1 i ⎠

Expansion of Discre
tized equations ⎧λ oi +1 if Poi +1 − Poi ⎧λ o i −1 if Po i −1 − Po i
λ oi + 1 = ⎨ λ oi−1 = ⎨
⎩λ oi if Poi +1 < Poi ⎩λ o i if Po i −1 < Po i
2
2

Boundary
Conditions
 Water equation:
IMPES Method
Txw i + 1 [(Po i +1 − Po i )− (Pcow i +1 − Pcow i )]+ Txwi − 1 [(Po i −1 − Po i )− (Pcow i −1 − Pcow i )]− q ′wi =
2 2

Limitations of the = Cpow i (Po i − Po it )+ Csww i (Sw i − Sw it )

IMPES method

 Transmissibility and mobility terms are the same as for oil equation, except the
subtitles are changed from “o” for oil to “w” for water.

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Boundary Conditions
Two phase system (
oil – water)
1. Constant water injection rate

Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C  the simplest condition to handle
apillary Pressure
 for a constant surface water injection rate of Q wi (negative) in a well
Discretization of F in grid block i:
low Equations Qwi
q−
wi =
A−xi
Upstream mobility
term

 At the end of a time step, the bottom hole injection pressure may theoretically be
Expansion of Discre
tized equations
calculated using the well equation:

Boundary Qwi = WCi λ oi (Pwi − Pbhi )

Conditions

where:
IMPES Method
 Well constant  Drainage radius
Limitations of the
IMPES method 2π ki h ΔyΔxi
WCi = re =
⎛r ⎞
ln⎜⎜ e ⎟⎟ −
⎝ rw ⎠

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

 The fluid injected in a well meets resistance from the fluids it displaces also.
Two phase system (
oil – water)  As a better approximation, it is normally accepted to use the sum of the mobilities of the
fluids present in the injection block in the well equation.
Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C  Well equation which is often used for the injection of water in an oil-water system:
apillary Pressure
⎛kro krwi ⎞ ⎛B ⎞
Discretization of F
Qwi Bwi = WCi ⎜ i + ⎟( Pw i − Pbhi ) or Qwi = WCi ⎜⎜ oi −oi + −wi ⎟⎟( Pwi − Pbhi )
⎝ − oi − oi ⎠ ⎝ Bwi ⎠
low Equations
qinj
Upstream mobility
term

– Injection wells are frequently

Expansion of Discre
tized equations constrained by a maximum bottom
hole pressure, to avoid fracturing of
the formation.
Boundary
Conditions
– This should be checked, and if Pbh Time
necessary, reduce the injection rate,
IMPES Method or convert it to a constant bottom hole
pressure injection well. Pmax

Limitations of the
IMPES method

Pbp Time

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

2. Injection at constant bottom hole pressure

Two phase system (
oil – water)
 Injection of water at constant bottom hole pressure is achieved by:
Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C
apillary Pressure – Having constant pressure at the injection pump at the surface.

Discretization of F – Letting the hydrostatic pressure caused by the well filled with water control the
low Equations injection pressure.

Upstream mobility
term
 The well equation:

Expansion of Discre
tized equations ⎛B ⎞
Qwi = WCi ⎜⎜ oi −oi + −wi ⎟⎟( Pwi − Pbhi )
⎝ Bwi ⎠
Boundary
Conditions Capillary pressure ⎛ Boi ⎞
Qwi = WC i ⎜
⎜B −oi + −wi ⎟( Po i − Pbh i )
⎟
is neglected ⎝ wi ⎠
IMPES Method

 At the end of the time step, the above equation may be used to compute the actual
Limitations of the water injection rate for the step.
IMPES method

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

3. Constant oil production rate

Two phase system (
oil – water)

 for a constant surface oil production rate of Q oi (positive) in a well in

Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C
grid block i:
apillary Pressure Qoi
qoi− =
A−xi
Discretization of F
low Equations
in this case oil production will generally be accompanied by water production.

Upstream mobility
term  The water equation will have a water production term given by:

Expansion of Discre
tized equations
λ (Pw i − Pbhi ) Capillary pressure is neglected λ wi
− = q oi′  wi
q wi q w−i = q o′ i
Boundary λ oi (Po i − Pbhi ) Around the production well λoi
Conditions

IMPES Method
 the bottom hole production pressure for the well may be calculated using the well
equation for oil:
Limitations of the
IMPES method
Qoi = WCi λ oi (Poi − Pbhi )

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

qprod

Two phase system (

oil – water)

Oil-Water Relative P – Production wells are normally

ermeabilities and C
apillary Pressure
Discretization of F
low Equations
constrained by a minimum bottom
hole pressure, for lifting purposes in
the well. If this is reached, the well
should be converted to a constant Pbh Time
bottom hole pressure well.

Upstream mobility
term

Expansion of Discre
Pmin
tized equations
WC(%) vs. Time(year)
80 Pbp Time
Boundary
70
Conditions
60

– If a maximum water cut level is

IMPES Method 50 As the limitation for water exceeded for well, the highest
cut was 75%, so at this
40 point gridblocks that water cut grid block may be shut in,
Limitations of the exceeded allowable water or the production rate may have to
IMPES method
30 cut had been closed in order
to keep the limit.
be reduced.
20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

4. Constant liquid production rate

Two phase system (
oil – water)
 Total constant surface liquid production rate of Q Li (positive):
Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C QLi = Qoi + Qwi
apillary Pressure
If capillary pressure is neglected:
Discretization of F
low Equations −oi Q Li −wi Q Li
q oi− = and q−
wi =
−oi + −wi A−xi −oi + −wi A−xi
Upstream mobility
term
qprod
Expansion of Discre
tized equations Total liquid
Oil
Boundary
Water
Conditions

IMPES Method

0 Time
Limitations of the
IMPES method

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

5. Production at Constant reservoir voidage rate

Two phase system (
oil – water)  A case of constant surface water injection rate of Q winj in some grid block.

Oil-Water Relative P  total production of liquids from a well in block i is to match the reservoir injection
ermeabilities and C volume so that the reservoir pressure remains approximately constant.
apillary Pressure

Discretization of F
low Equations Qoi Boi + Qwi Bwi = −QwinjBwinj

Upstream mobility
term If capillary pressure is neglected:

Expansion of Discre
tized equations ⎛ λ oi ⎞⎛ − Qw inj Bw inj ⎞
q oi− = ⎜
⎜λ B + λ B ⎟⎜
⎟⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ oi oi wi wi ⎠⎝ A−xi ⎠
Boundary
Conditions
and
IMPES Method
⎛ λ wi ⎞⎛ − Qw inj Bw inj ⎞
q−
wi = ⎜
⎜λ B + λ B ⎟⎟⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
Limitations of the
IMPES method
⎝ oi oi wi wi ⎠⎝ A−xi ⎠

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

6. Production at Constant bottom hole pressure

Two phase system (
oil – water)
 Production well in grid block i with constant bottom hole pressure, P bhi:
Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C
apillary Pressure
Qo i = WCi −oi ( Poi − Pbhi ) and Qwi = WCi −wi ( Pwi − Pbhi )
Discretization of F
low Equations
Substituting the flow terms in the flow equations:
Upstream mobility
term
WCi WCi
q o−i = λ oi (Po i − Pbhi ) and q w−i = λ (Pw i − Pbhi )
AΔxi AΔxi wi
Expansion of Discre
tized equations

Boundary  The rate terms contain unknown block pressures, these will have to be
Conditions appropriately included in the matrix coefficients when solving for
pressures.
IMPES Method
 At the end of each time step, actual rates are computed by these
equations, and water cut is computed.
Limitations of the
IMPES method

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

IMPES Method
Two phase system (
oil – water)  Discretized form of flow equations:

Oil-Water Relative P
( )
Txoi + 1 (Poi +1 − Poi )+ Txoi − 1 (Poi −1 − Poi )− qoi′ = Cpooi Poi − Poit + Cswoi Swi − Swit
2 2
( )
ermeabilities and C
Txw i + 1 [(Po i +1 − Po i )− (Pcow i +1 − Pcow i )]+ Txwi − 1 [(Po i −1 − Po i )− (Pcow i −1 − Pcow i )]− q ′wi =
apillary Pressure
2 2

Discretization of F = Cpow i (Po i − Po it )+ Csww i (Sw i − Sw it )

low Equations
Where:
i=1, …, N
Upstream mobility
term

Expansion of Discre  the primary variables and unknowns to be solved for equations are:
tized equations

– Oil pressures Poi, Poi-1, Poi+1

Boundary
Conditions – Water saturation Swi

IMPES Method  Assumption:

– All coefficients and capillary pressures are evaluated at time=t.

Limitations of the
IMPES method
Txot , Txwt , C sot , C sw
t
, C tpo , C tpw , PCow
t

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Two phase system (  The two equations are combined so that the saturation terms are eliminated. The resulting
oil – water) equation is the pressure equation:

Oil-Water Relative P ai Poi −1 + bi Poi + ci Poi +1 = d i

ermeabilities and C i=1, …, N
apillary Pressure

Discretization of F – This equation may be solved for pressures implicitly in all grid blocks by Gaussian
low Equations
Elimination Method or some other methods.

Upstream mobility
term

 The saturations may be solved explicitly by using one of the equations.

Expansion of Discre
tized equations
 Using the oil equation yields:

[T (Poi +1 − Poi )+ Txoit− (Poi −1 − Poi )− qoi′ − Cpooit (Poi − Poit )]

Boundary
1
Conditions Swi = Swit + xo
t
i + 12 1
Cswoit 2

IMPES Method

Limitations of the
IMPES method

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Two phase system (

oil – water)  Having obtained oil pressures and water saturations for a given time step, well rates or
bottom hole pressures may be computed as q’ wi, q’oi and Pbh.
Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C
apillary Pressure
The surface production well water cut may be computed as:
Discretization of F
low Equations q−
fwsi = wi

q− −
wi + qoi
Upstream mobility
term

Expansion of Discre  Required adjustments in well rates and well pressures, if constrained by upper or
tized equations lower limits are made at the end of each time step, before all coefficients are updated
and we can proceed to the next time step.
Boundary
Conditions

IMPES Method

Limitations of the
IMPES method

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Limitations of the IMPES method

Two phase system (
oil – water)

 The evaluation of coefficients at old time level when solving for pressures and
Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C saturations at a new time level, puts restrictions on the solution which sometimes may
apillary Pressure be severe.

Discretization of F  IMPES is mainly used for simulation of field scale systems, with relatively large grid blocks
low Equations
and slow rates of change.

Upstream mobility
term
 It is normally not suited for simulation of rapid changes close to wells, such as coning
studies, or other systems of rapid changes.

Expansion of Discre
tized equations
 When time steps are kept small, IMPES provides accurate and stable solutions to a
long range of reservoir problems.
Boundary
Conditions

IMPES Method

Limitations of the
IMPES method

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Questions
Two phase system (
oil – water) 1. Make sketches of typical Kro, Krw and Pcow curves for an oil-water system, both for oil-
displacement of water and water-displacement of oil, and label all relevant points.
Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C
apillary Pressure 2. Show how the saturation profile (Sw vs. x), if calculated in a simulation model, typically

Discretization of F
is influenced by the choice of mobilities between the grid blocks (include simulated
low Equations results with upstream and average mobility terms) (neglecting capillary pressure).
Make also a sketch of the exact solution.
Upstream mobility
term

Expansion of Discre 3. Write the two flow equations for oil and water on discretized forms in terms ot
tized equations
transmissibilities, storage coefficients and pressure differences.

Boundary
Conditions
4. Write an expression for the selection of the upstream mobility term for use in the
IMPES Method transmissibility term of he oil equation for flow between the grid blocks ( i-1) and (i).

Limitations of the
IMPES method
5. List the assumptions for IMPES solutin, and outline briefly how we solve for pressures
and saturations.

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

Two phase system (

References
oil – water)

Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C
apillary Pressure
 Kleppe J.: Reservoir Simulation, Lecture note 6
Discretization of F
low Equations
 Snyder and Ramey SPE 1645
Upstream mobility
term

Expansion of Discre
tized equations

Boundary
Conditions

IMPES Method

Limitations of the
IMPES method

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 Saturated Oil-Water Simulation, IMPES Solution

About this module

Two phase system (
oil – water)
 Title: SATURATED OIL-WATER SIMULATION, IMPES SOLUTION (PDF)
Oil-Water Relative P
ermeabilities and C
apillary Pressure  Author:
 Name: Prof. Jon Kleppe
Discretization of F
low Equations
 Address:
Upstream mobility NTNU
term S.P. Andersensvei 15A
7491 Trondheim
Expansion of Discre
tized equations
 Website

Boundary
Conditions  Email

IMPES Method  Size: 750 Kb

Limitations of the
IMPES method

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