PoroTwin: A digital twin for a FluidFlower rig

TL;DR

This paper introduces PoroTwin, a digital twin framework for simulating and controlling tracer transport in heterogeneous porous media, integrating physics-based models with correction techniques for improved accuracy.

Contribution

The work presents a novel digital twin setup combining physics simulation and correction methods, enabling precise experiments and control in porous media applications.

Findings

Digital twin accurately models tracer transport in complex media.

Correction technique effectively compensates for high diffusion mismatches.

Two-way coupling allows real-time control of fluid injection and production.

Abstract

We present a framework for integrated experiments and simulations of tracer transport in heterogeneous porous media using digital twin technology. The physical asset in our setup is a meter-scale FluidFlower rig. The digital twin consists of a traditional physics-based forward simulation tool and a correction technique which compensates for mismatches between simulation results and observations. The latter augments the range of the physics-based simulation and allows us to bridge the gap between simulation and experiments in a quantitative sense. We describe the setup of the physical and digital twin, including data transfer protocols using cloud technology. The accuracy of the digital twin is demonstrated on a case with artificially high diffusion that must be compensated by the correction approach, as well as by simulations in geologically complex media. The digital twin is then applied to control tracer transport by manipulating fluid injection and production in the experimental rig, thereby enabling two-way coupling between the physical and digital twins.