| This dissertation research presents the results of our exploration into the emerging numerical Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) with particular attention to single and multiphase flow in porous media. Recently, in an effort to advance the study of particle characterization, researchers at the University of Utah have used X-ray microtomography (XMT) as a major analytical tool for the study of opaque packed particle beds, and the area of flow simulation research is a natural extension of the micro CT research activity. In this regard, LBM has been coupled with X-ray analysis by computerized tomography (CT) to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed image which establishes the boundary conditions for flow analysis.;During this dissertation research several LB models have been studied and coding software implemented in order to build up capabilities for the final objective to simulate multiphase flow in porous media. We have been successful in implementing these two-dimensional (2D) and 3D software capabilities for the single relaxation time (SRT) model to simulate single phase saturated flow. The LB software structure developed for single phase saturated flow has been extended for both 2D and 3D simulation of single component multiphase flow using the He-Chen-Zhang LBM model. Furthermore, the He model has been extended to incorporate fluid-solid interaction forces and has been applied to the simulation of percolation using actual XMT images of packed particle beds. Finally, 2D and 3D software capabilities have been developed for multicomponent multiphase flow using as a basis the Shan and Chen model. Additionally, techniques for analysis and visualization of the simulation data have been created.;In this regard, we have emphasized the comparison of the simulation results not just with validation problems but also with experimental data. In fact, the LBM has been used to compare simulation results with some experimental results of single phase flow in porous media and with experimental results of permeability determination for packed particle beds. Also, the LBM has been used to simulate percolation phenomena in sandstone, and the results are compared with accepted theory. Finally, efforts have been made to explore the use of LBM for the determination of water-oil relative permeability curves. |
