Finite element methods for flow in porous media

This thesis studies the application of finite element methods to porous flow problems. Particular attention is paid to locally mass conserving methods, which are very well suited for typical multiphase flow applications in porous media. The focus is on the Brinkman model, which is a parameter dependent extension of the classical Darcy model for porous flow taking the viscous phenomena into account. The thesis introduces a mass conserving finite element method for the Brinkman flow, with complete mathematical analysis of the method. In addition, stochastic material parameters are considered for the Brinkman flow, and parameter dependent Robin boundary conditions for the underlying Darcy flow. All of the theoretical results in the thesis are also verified with extensive numerical testing. Furthermore, many implementational aspects are discussed in the thesis, and computational viability of the methods introduced, both in terms of usefulness and computational complexity, is taken into account.