The invention is a method for simulating one or more characteristics of a multi-component,
hydrocarbon-bearing formation into which a displacement fluid having at least one
component is injected to displace formation hydrocarbons. The first step of the
method is to equate at least part of the formation to a multiplicity of gridcells.
Each gridcell is then divided into two regions, a first region representing a portion
of each gridcell swept by the displacement fluid and a second region representing
a portion of each gridcell essentially unswept by the displacement fluid. The distribution
of components in each region is assumed to be essentially uniform. A model is constructed
that is representative of fluid properties within each region, fluid flow between
gridcells using principles of percolation theory, and component transport between
the regions. The model is then used in a simulator to simulate one or more characteristics
of the formation.