A partial differential equation has been commonly used to model tracer flow in porous media. The equation represents tracer transport thatresultsfromconvection-diffusionorotherwisediffusionprocesses. Convection refers to bulk fluid flow and diffusion refers to spreading of the tracer slug because of random molecular motions and local velocity fluctuations.

This paper addresses the mathematical description of the solution of the convection-diffusion equation. Thereafter, this paper presents a comparative analysis of the solution to that of the diffusion equation for its application to the petroleum reservoir tracer test breakthrough curves. It follows that the solution models the tracer flow behavior in petroleum reservoirs satisfactorily.

tracer transport, breakthrough curve, petroleum reservoir.