Velocity distributions and overall mobility: their roles in the initiation and propagation of viscous fingering in first contact miscible systems
This study begins by rigorously examining the properties of permeability and longitudinal dispersion in linear one phase two component porous media flow systems where viscosity and density are constant. This theoretical analysis leads to the development of the simplest physical model which accounts for the presence of longitudinal dispersion. After the simple linear model is modified to incorporate the effects of variable viscosity, the impacts that various parameters of the model have on the problem of viscous fingering are systematically evaluated. While at this time the simple theoretical model cannot be entirely validated, it is heartening to note that no well established behavior seen in linear porous media flow systems contradicts the qualitative behavior predicted by this model. If the model is correct, it has many potentially important applications and ramifications. This model gives, among other things, the scaling factors which must be met for the direct extension of laboratory results to field situations and the implications of using concentration dependent relative mobility functions (such as those of Todd and Longstaff). In this study, it is also shown that under extreme conditions outlined in the text, the classical Stile's and Buckley-Leverett calculations are equivalent.
- Research Organization:
- Wyoming Univ., Laramie (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6566707
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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