Quantitative visualization and characteristics of gas flow in 3D pore-fracture system of tight rock based on Lattice Boltzmann simulation

The geometric complexity of the 3D pore-fracture system of tight rock at the pore-scale is a primary challenge for the prediction of gas flow. In this paper, the 3D pore-fracture systems of tight rock are reconstructed based on the representation unit volume (REV) of the intact tight sandstone and fractal fracture. A 3D regularized lattice Boltzmann model that considered the gas slippage effect is employed to simulate gas flow in the 3D pore-fracture systems. Effects of the micro-fracture morphology and gas rarefaction effect on gas flow and permeability of the pore-fracture systems are examined and investigated. The simulation results indicate that the gas flow behaviors in the pore-fracture system are strongly related to the above two factors. Gas flow behaviors in the pore-fracture structure is more sensitive at the low-pressure condition and gas rarefaction effect are more sensitive to the porefracture system with the highly rough fracture or the low fracture connectivity.