Steady-state, simultaneous two-phase flow in porous media

Abstract

Simultaneous two-phase flow in porous media has been studied experimentally, in a large quasi two-dimensional laboratory model of roughly $~214000$ pores. Both the invasion phase and steady-state have been considered. Steady-state flow is a more realistic description of the situation deep inside natural reservoirs, than pure transient regimes.

In all experiments the combination of glycerol/water and air have been used as the pair of wetting and non-wetting fluid respectively. Analysis has been performed on the basis of digital imaging of displacement structures, pressure measurements and balance readings of produced output volume of wetting fluid.

We seek to answer how pressure and fluid flow relate to dynamics and the observed displacement structures.