Theory of simulation

Assumptions for ideal SWCT test modeling

Mathematical modeling of the ideal SWCT test assumes that:

The carrier fluid flow is incompressible, pseudosteady state, single-phase, and radial only

That the formation is a homogeneous layer of thickness (h) and porosity () extending from the
wellbore radius (rw) to an external boundary radius (re), where reservoir pressure is constant

With these assumptions, the interstitial fluid velocity (vfi) is given by

....................(1)
where r = radial position; q = fluid flow rate in the single well (q > 0 is injection and q < 0 is production); h =
height of test zone; = porosity; and Sf = flowing fluid saturation, constant.
The additional assumptions regarding the tracers are:

That KA for tracer A is constant and that A is in local equilibrium between flowing fluid (saturation Sf)
and residual fluid (saturation Sr). For Case 1, Sr = Sor and Sf = 1.0 Sor.

That tracer A (primary) reacts in situ to form tracer B (product) at a rate given by

....................(2)
where RH = hydrolysis reaction rate, in moles of A per vol-day; CA = concentration of A, in mol/volume;
and kH = hydrolysis rate constant (days 1) in the aqueous phase. Tracers are dispersed in the radial flow
with an effective dispersion coefficient (Da), given by

....................(3)
where = dispersivity (ft).
The material balance for tracer A is the partial differential equation:

....................(4)
Similar equations apply for product tracer B and the material-balance tracers.
SWCT test simulation requires the numerical solution of these equations for A, B, and the material-balance
tracer. The equations first are converted to finite-differenced form, based on the perfectly mixed cell model.
[1]

The simulation program then solves the finite-differenced equations for the concentrations of the tracers

in a radial series of cells over the test time interval.

Simulation program inputs

Input to the simulation program consists of:

Known parameters, which are: q as a function of time (injection, shut-in, production), injected
concentration of tracer A (CA) and concentration of tracer B (CB) as a function of
time; rw, h, ; KA and KB.

Unknown (estimated) parameters, which are: kH, Sor, and the radial dimension of the cells (R).
Note: according to the theory of the perfectly mixed cell model for small time intervals, R = 2.