Flow behavior of foam: A porous micromodel study
The flow behavior of foam in porous micromodels has been studied visually by use of etched silicon wafers. Air was injected into homogenous and heterogeneous porous media previously filled with an aqueous surfactant solution. The flow characteristics and the mobility of the injected air were determined under different conditions of pore dimensions, air injection rates, and surfactant concentrations. In the experiments, air was found to be propagated by displacement of lamellae in long bubbles flowing and extending across several pore lengths, while the liquid flowed through the network of films. Propagation of foam bubbles formed at pore constrictions by snap-off was dominant in the heterogeneous model. Liquid and/or gas was trapped in some pores. The mechanisms observed depended on pore structure and surfactant concentration. A considerable reduction of effective air mobility was observed in the presence of foam. Mobility reduction depended on flow mechanisms.
- Research Organization:
- Stanford Univ. Petroleum Research Inst.
- OSTI ID:
- 5922593
- Journal Information:
- SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States), Vol. 2:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
FOAMS
FLOW MODELS
OIL WELLS
WATERFLOODING
RESERVOIR ROCK
AIR FLOW
HYDRODYNAMICS
SIMULATION
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
GAS SATURATION
GEOLOGIC MODELS
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
PETROLEUM
POROSITY
POROUS MATERIALS
SIMULATORS
SURFACTANTS
TESTING
WELL STIMULATION
ANALOG SYSTEMS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GAS FLOW
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
MIXTURES
RECOVERY
SATURATION
SOLUTIONS
STIMULATION
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production