Title: On the TCAT Approach for Obtaining Multiphase Subsurface Conservation Equations Location: Building 980, Room 24 (Sandia NM), Building 915, Room S101 (Sandia CA) Brief Abstract: Modeling of flow and transport processes in natural porous media requires that conservation equations be formulated at a length macroscale much larger than the pore diameter but much smaller than the system length scale. The Thermodynamically Constrained Averaging Theory (TCAT) approach provides a means to upscale the needed equations. This method extends the standard method of averaging pore scale conservation equations in at least two important ways: i) conservation equations may be employed for the properties of interfaces between phases and common curves where three phases come together; and ii) pore scale thermodynamics are averaged to the macroscale so that a relation between microscale and macroscale properties, such as temperature and pressure, are explicit. The importance and effect of using the TCAT approach in comparison to standard approaches is demonstrated for porous media systems involving single phase flow, two phase flow, and the expression for the solid phase stress tensor. CSRI POC: Genetha Gray, (925) 294-4957 |