Investigation of the wetting effects on two-phase fluid flows in a heterogeneous digital core under dynamic conditions

Abstract

The paper studies the wetting effects on the characteristics of two-phase fluid flows in porous media. The originality of paper is a study of displacement under dynamic conditions when the action of viscous forces is significant. As a research tool, the methods of mathematical modeling are used – the lattice Boltzmann equations in a combination with a color-gradient model that describes interphacial interactions. Numerical experiments are carried out in a digital model of a porous medium characterized by a high degree of the pore space heterogeneity. In this work, a map of flow regimes in the coordinates “capillarity number – contact angle” is performed. The identification of four crossover modes between flows with capillary, viscous fingers and with a stable displacement front is carried out. Special attention is paid to the study of the influence of wetting effects on the specific length of the “injected fluid – skeleton” interface.

Keywords

• wetting angle
• capillary number
• drainage
• imbibitions
• lattice boltzmann equations