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Parametric model for constitutive properties governing multiphase flow in porous media

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5126911

A parametric model is developed to describe relative permeability-saturation-fluid pressure functional relationships in two- or three-fluid phase porous-media systems subject to monotonic saturation paths. All functions are obtained as simple closed-form expressions convenient for implementation in numerical multiphase-flow models. Model calibration requires only relatively simple determinations of saturation-pressure relations in two-phase systems. A scaling procedure is employed to simplify the description of two-phase saturation-capillary head relations for arbitrary fluid pairs and experimental results for two porous media are presented to demonstrate its applicability. Extension of two-phase relations to three-phase systems is obtained under the assumption that fluid wettability follows the sequence water > nonaqueous phase liquid > air.

Research Organization:
Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg (USA)
OSTI ID:
5126911
Report Number(s):
PB-88-148168/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English