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Preferential imbibition in a dual-permeability pore network

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2021

Qingqing Gu Open the ORCID record for Qingqing Gu [Opens in a new window] ,
Haihu Liu Open the ORCID record for Haihu Liu [Opens in a new window]  and
Lei Wu Open the ORCID record for Lei Wu [Opens in a new window]
Qingqing Gu
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, PR China
Haihu Liu*
Affiliation:
School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 West Xianning Road, Xi'an 710049, PR China
Lei Wu*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, PR China
*
†Email addresses for correspondence: haihu.liu@mail.xjtu.edu.cn, wul@sustech.edu.cn
†Email addresses for correspondence: haihu.liu@mail.xjtu.edu.cn, wul@sustech.edu.cn
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Abstract

A deep understanding of two-phase displacement in porous media with permeability contrast is essential for the design and optimisation of enhanced oil recovery processes. In this paper, we investigate the forced imbibition behaviour in two dual-permeability geometries that are of equal permeability contrast. First, a mathematical model is developed for the imbibition in a pore doublet, which shows that the imbibition dynamics can be fully described by the viscosity ratio $\lambda$ and capillary number $Ca_m$ which creatively incorporates the influence of channel width and length. Through the finite difference solution of the mathematical model, a $\lambda$–$Ca_m$ phase diagram is established to characterise the imbibition preference in the pore doublet. We then investigate the imbibition process in a dual-permeability pore network using a well-established lattice Boltzmann method, focusing on the competition between the viscous and capillary forces. Like in the pore doublet, the preferential imbibition occurs in high-permeability zone at high $Ca_{m}$ but in low-permeability zone at low $Ca_{m}$. When $Ca_m$ is not sufficiently high, an oblique advancing pattern is observed which is attributed to non-trivial interfacial tension. Using the newly defined capillary number, the critical $Ca_{m}$ curve on which the breakthrough simultaneously occurs in both permeability zones is found to match well with that from the pore doublet and it is the optimal condition for maximising the imbibition efficiency in the entire pore network.

JFM classification

Low-Reynolds-number flows: Porous media Multiphase and Particle-laden Flows: Multiphase flow
Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 915 , 25 May 2021 , A138
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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