Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2021
Abstract
Nanoparticle (NP) transport is increasingly relevant to subsurface engineering applications such as aquifer characterization and enhanced oil recovery. An efficient field-scale simulation framework is critical for predicting NP performance and designing subsurface applications. In this work, for the first time, a streamline-based model is presented to simulate NP transport in field-scale subsurface systems with heterogeneous permeability. It considers a series of smart behaviors exhibited by engineered nanoparticles (NPs), including time-triggered encapsulation, retention, formation damage effects and variable nanofluid viscosity. The key methods employed by the algorithm are streamline-based simulation (SLS) and an operator-splitting (OS) technique for modeling NP transport. The model is implemented in an in-house streamline-based code, which is verified against analytical solutions, commercial simulator and academic codes. Simulations on a synthetic three-dimensional (3D) nanocapsule application engineering design case, are also performed to investigate the effect of fluid and NP properties on the displacement pattern of an existing subsurface fluid.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Advances in Water Resources
Recommended Citation
Wang, B., Feng, Y., Blears, J., Thompson, K., & Hughes, R. (2021). Streamline-based simulation of nanoparticle transport in field-scale heterogeneous subsurface systems. Advances in Water Resources, 148 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2020.103842