Multiscale finite element methods for porous media flows and their applications

In this paper, we discuss some applications of multiscale finite element methods to two-phase immiscible flow simulations in heterogeneous porous media. We discuss some extensions of multiscale finite element methods which take into account limited global information. These methods are well suited for channelized porous media, where the long-range effects are important. This is typical for some recent benchmark tests, such as the SPE comparative solution project [M. Christie, M. Blunt, Tenth SPE comparative solution project: A comparison of upscaling techniques, SPE Reser. Eval. Engrg. 4 (2001) 308–317], where porous media has a channelized structure. The applications of multiscale finite element methods to inverse problems arisen in subsurface characterization are also discussed in the paper.