Pore-scale viscous fingering as a mechanism for pattern formation – a historical overview, application, and the ways of controlling it

Abstract

Viscous fingering instability, as one of the numerous fluid instabilities and mechanisms of pattern formation, is very common in different fields of research. First studied experimentally in an apparatus called a Hele-Shaw cell in 1898, it has been widely used, for example, as a model for porous media in laboratory testing. This paper provides a brief insight into the mathematical model of the Saffman–Taylor instability (pore scale viscous fingering) and the situations in which viscous fingering can be encountered. Since it is a morphogenetic instability, it is usually considered a nuisance and in recent decades many scientists and researchers have focused on the ways to avoid its occurrence. For instance, the petroleum industry has been continuously trying to discover the best solution for its control since viscous fingering limits oil recovery in porous media. The review provides a historical overview of the phenomena and various methods that have been used to control this instability. The final part of the paper gives a summary and the conclusions that have been drawn as the results of diverse studies.

Keywords

• Viscous fingering
• Hele-Shaw cell
• suppression
• Saffman-Taylor instability