New insights on the complex dynamics of two-phase flow in porous media under intermediate-wet conditions

Rabbani, Harris Sajjad; Joekar-Niasar, Vahid; Pak, Tannaz; Shokri, Nima

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-04545-4

New insights on the complex dynamics of two-phase flow in porous media under intermediate-wet conditions

Journal Article · Tue Jul 04 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Scientific Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-04545-4· OSTI ID:1624304

Rabbani, Harris Sajjad ^[1]; ^[2]; ^[3]; Shokri, Nima ^[2]

Univ. of Manchester (United Kingdom). School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science; DOE/OSTI
Univ. of Manchester (United Kingdom). School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science
Teesside Univ., Middlesbrough (United Kingdom). School of Science and Engineering

Multiphase flow in porous media is important in a number of environmental and industrial applications such as soil remediation, CO₂ sequestration, and enhanced oil recovery. Wetting properties control flow of immiscible fluids in porous media and fluids distribution in the pore space. In contrast to the strong and weak wet conditions, pore-scale physics of immiscible displacement under intermediatewet conditions is less understood. This study reports the results of a series of two-dimensional highresolution direct numerical simulations with the aim of understanding the pore-scale dynamics of twophase immiscible fluid flow under intermediate-wet conditions. Our results show that for intermediatewet porous media, pore geometry has a strong influence on interface dynamics, leading to co-existence of concave and convex interfaces. Intermediate wettability leads to various interfacial movements which are not identified under imbibition or drainage conditions. These pore-scale events significantly influence macro-scale flow behaviour causing the counter-intuitive decline in recovery of the defending fluid from weak imbibition to intermediate-wet conditions.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1624304

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 7; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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