Upscaling Issues in Parameter Estimation of Models for Flow in Porous Media

The ability to numerically simulate single phase and multiphase ow of uids in porous media is extremely important in developing an understanding of the complex phenomena governing the ow. The ow is complicated by the presence of heterogeneities in the reservoir at many diierent length scales and by phenomena such as diiusion and dispersion. These eeects must be eeectively modeled by terms in coupled systems of nonlinear partial diierential equations which form the basis of the simulator. A discussion of some of the aspects of modeling unsaturated and multiphase ows in the presence of heterogeneities and channelling is presented along with directions for future work.