DOI: 10.1017/s0022112086002586. Network models for two-phase flow in porous media Part 2. Motion of oil ganglia

Network models for two-phase flow in porous media Part 2. Motion of oil ganglia

10.1017/s0022112086002586

Crossref journal-article

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Journal of Fluid Mechanics (56)

Abstract

The behaviour of non-wetting ganglia undergoing immiscible displacement in a porous medium is studied with the help of a theoretical simulator. The porous medium is represented by a network of randomly sized unit cells of the constricted-tube type. The fluid of a non-wetting ganglion is in contact with the wetting fluid at menisci which are assumed to be spherical cups. The flow in every constricted unit cell occupied by a single fluid is modelled as flow in a sinusoidal tube. The flow in every unit cell that contains a meniscus and portions of both fluids is treated with a combination of a Washburn-type analysis and a lubrication-theory approximation. The flow problem is thus reduced to a system of linear equations the solution of which gives the instantaneous pressures on the nodes, the flowrates through the unit cells, and the velocities of the menisci. The motion of a ganglion is determined by assuming quasi-static flow, taking a small time increment, updating the positions of the menisci, and iterating. The behaviour of solitary ganglia is studied under conditions of quasi-static displacement (Ca slightly larger than critical), as well as dynamic displacement (Ca substantially larger than critical). Shape evolution, rate of flow, mode of break-up, and stranding are examined. The stranding and break-up coefficients are determined as functions of the capillary number and the ganglion size for a 100 × 200 sandpack. The dependence of the average ganglion velocity on ganglion size, capillary number, viscosity ratio and dynamic contact angle is examined for the simple case of motion between straight rows of spheres. It is found, among other things, that when μo < μw the velocity of ganglia can be substantially larger than that of the displacing fluid.

Bibliography

Dias, M. M., & Payatakes, A. C. (1986). Network models for two-phase flow in porous media Part 2. Motion of oil ganglia. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 164, 337â358.

Authors 2

Madalena M. Dias (first)
Alkiviades C. Payatakes (additional)

References 22 Referenced 85

Legait, B. 1981 Influence des forces d'inertie et de viscosité sur la difference de pression nécessaire au passage d'une goutte, immiscible avec le fluid en place, a traverse un col.C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris,292, Sér II, 1111–1114.
Rapin, S. 1980 Behavior of non-wetting oil ganglia displaced by an equeous phase. M.S. thesis,University of Houston,Houston, Texas.
Oh, S. G. & Slattery, J. C. 1979 Interfacial tension required for significant displacement of oil.Soc. Pet. Eng. J. 19,83–96.
Hinkley, R. E. , Dias, M. M. & Payatakes, A. C. 1985 On the motion of oil ganglia in porous media. To appear.
Olbricht, W. L. & Leal, L. G. 1983 The creeping motion of immiscible drops through converging/diverging tubes.J. Fluid Mech. 134,329–355.
Dias, M. M. & Payatakes, A. C. 1986 Network models for two-phase flow in porous media. Part 1: Immiscible mierodisplacement of non-wetting fluids.J. Fluid Mech. 164,305–336.
Ng, K. M. 1980 Oil ganglia dynamics in flow through porous media. Ph.D. thesis,University of Houston,Houston, Texas.
Melkose, J. C. & Brandner, C. F. 1974 Role of capillary forces in determining microscopic displacement efficiency for oil recovery by water flooding.J. Can. Pet,. Tech. 13(4), 54–62.
Batycky & Sinohall 1977 Mobilization of entrapped ganglia.Res. Rep. RR-35, Petroleum Recovery Institute, Calgary, Canada.
Ng, K. M. & Payatakes, A. C. 1980 Stochastic simulation of the motion, break-up and stranding of oil ganglia in water-wet granular porous media during immiscible displacement.AIChE J. 26,419–429.
Payatatakes, A. C. , Ng, K. M. & Fumerfelt, R. W. 1980 Oil ganglia dynamics during immiscible displacement. Model formulation.AIChE J. 20,430–443.
Payatakes, A. C. 1982 Dynamics of oil ganglion during immiscible displacement in water-wet porous media.Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech. 14,365–393.
Legait, B. & Jacquin, C. 1982 Conditions nécessaires au passage d'un col par une goutte en déplacement dans un capillaire de section carrée, en regime de Stokes.C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris,294, Sér. II, 487–492.
Leverett, M. C. 1941 Capillary behavior in porous solids.AIME Trans. 142,152–169.
Ng, K. M. , Davis, H. T. & Scriven, L. E. 1978 Visualization of blob mechanisms in flow through porous media.Chem. Eng. Sci. 33,1009–1017.
Egbogah, E. O. & Dawe, A. 1981 A model of oil ganglion movement in porous media. SPE 10115, 56th Annual Fall Tech. Conf. and Exhib. of SPE , San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 5–7.
Payatakes, A. C. , Tien, Chi & Turian, R. M. 1973 A new model for granular porous media—Part I. Model formulation.AIChE J. 19,67–76.
Dias, M. M. 1984 Formation and dynamics of oil ganglia in porous media. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Houston, Houston, Texas.
Yadav, G. D. & Mason, G. 1983 The onset of blob motion in a random sphere packing caused by flow of the surrounding liquid.Chem. Eng. Sci. 38,1461–1465.
Payatakes, A. C. , Woodham, G. & Ng, K. M. 1981 On the fate of oil ganglia during immiscible displacement in water wet granular porous media. In Surface Phenomena in Enhanced Oil Recovery (ed. D. O. Shah ). Plenum Press, New York. (10.1007/978-1-4757-0337-5_29)
Hinkley, R. E. 1982 Oil ganglion motion. M.S. thesis,University of Houston,Houston, Texas.
Payatakes, A. C. & Dias, M. M. 1984 Immiscible microdisplacement and ganglion dynamics in porous media.Rev. Chem. Eng. 2 (2), 85–174.

Dates

Type	When
Created	19 years, 4 months ago (April 21, 2006, 7:59 a.m.)
Deposited	6 years, 2 months ago (June 7, 2019, 3:59 p.m.)
Indexed	1 month ago (Aug. 6, 2025, 8:57 a.m.)
Issued	39 years, 6 months ago (March 1, 1986)
Published	39 years, 6 months ago (March 1, 1986)
Published Online	19 years, 4 months ago (April 21, 2006)
Published Print	39 years, 6 months ago (March 1, 1986)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Dias_1986, title={Network models for two-phase flow in porous media Part 2. Motion of oil ganglia}, volume={164}, ISSN={1469-7645}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022112086002586}, DOI={10.1017/s0022112086002586}, journal={Journal of Fluid Mechanics}, publisher={Cambridge University Press (CUP)}, author={Dias, Madalena M. and Payatakes, Alkiviades C.}, year={1986}, month=mar, pages={337–358} }

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