Density-Driven Compactional Flow in Porous Media

TL;DR

This paper compares two mathematical models of compactional flow in porous media, highlighting differences between poroelastic and viscous behaviors at various depths, and analyzes two styles of density-driven compaction in sediments.

Contribution

It introduces and numerically compares two models of compaction, providing insights into their behaviors at different depths and sediment types.

Findings

Poroelastic and viscous compaction profiles differ significantly at greater depths.

Two styles of density-driven compaction are characterized and analyzed.

Numerical solutions align well with asymptotic predictions.

Abstract

In the mathematical modelling of compactional flow in porous media, the constitutive relation is typically modelled in terms of a nonlinear relationship between effective pressure and porosity, and compaction is essentially poroelastic. However, at depths deeper than 1 km where pressure is high, compaction becomes more akin to a viscous one. Two mathematical models of compaction in porous media are formulated and the noninear equations are then solved numerically. The essential features of numerical profiles of poroelastic and viscous compaction are thus compared with asymptotic solutions. Two distinguished styles of density-driven compaction in fast and slow compacting sediments are analysed and shown in this paper.