Direct numerical simulation of a fluid flow in core samples based on quasi-hydrodynamic equations

Direct numerical modeling techniques for the evaluation of a macroscopic permeability coefficient of samples of naturally occurring geological media using their micro-computer tomography (micro-CT) images is considered. The basic mathematical model of a flow is based on quasi-hydrodynamic (QHD) equations for viscous heat-conducting compressible gas flows. The evaluation of a permeability coefficient of artificial and real porous media is discussed. Free available micro-CT images are used. Results of computations for artificial porous media are compared with the analytic ones, for real porous media — with the results obtained by the Lattice Boltzmann method and results obtained by other researchers. It is shown that the approach based on QHD equations is highly competitive with other approaches.