The finite-element-centered finite-volume discretization method (FECFVM) for multiphase transport in porous media with sharp material discontinuities

Abstract

Simulation of coupled pressure-, buoyancy- and capillary driven multiphase fluid flow in geological media is challenging as they are aggregates of many rock types with sharp interfaces and extremely variable flow properties. Geological features have variable orientations, complex intersections, and aspect ratios up to >1000:1. Hence, realistic discretization is only possible with adaptively refined unstructured grids. Finiteelement schemes for such meshes are not locally conservative and therefore ill suited for the simulation of transport processes. To overcome this restriction we developed a hybrid Finite-Element Node-Centered Finite Volume scheme (FEFVM). In this method, however, interfac..