Impact of conceptual model of sedimentary formation hydraulic heterogeneity on contaminant transport simulation
Development of heterogeneity model of layered sandy-clay formation and impact of this model on transport is considered. The lithological data of more than 250 wells that captured 300 meters formation at the investigated area of 40 km2 are used for model of heterogeneity construction. Two models of heterogeneity were developed with using these well data: TP/MC model based on 3D Markov chain simulation for four hydrofacies and 2D kriging interpolation of thicknesses of elementary lithological layers. Simulation of conservative transport by particle tracking algorithm shows that horizontal transport along layers is similar for both models. The main difference is in vertical transport cross formation bedding. The kriging interpolation model gives more conservative results than TP/MC model due to larger characteristic horizontal length of layers in the kriging model. As the result vertical effective permeability of formation is in two times larger and the first particle arriving time is in four times faster in TP/MC model.