Abstract
AbstractScaling the experimental data of spontaneous imbibition without serious limitations has been difficult. To this end, a general approach was developed to scale the experimental data of spontaneous imbibition for most systems (gas-liquid-rock and oil-water-rock systems) in both cocurrent and countercurrent cases. We defined a dimensionless time with almost all the parameters considered. These include porosity, permeability, size, shape, boundary conditions, wetting and nonwetting phase relative permeabilities, interfacial tension, wettability, and gravity. The definition of the dimensionless time was not empirical, instead, was based on theoretical analysis of the fluid flow mechanisms that govern spontaneous imbibition. The general scaling method was confirmed against the experimental data from spontaneous water imbibition conducted at different interfacial tensions in oil-saturated rocks with different sizes and permeabilities. A general analytical solution to the relationship between recovery and imbibition time for linear spontaneous imbibition was derived. The analytical solution predicts a linear correlation between the imbibition rate and the reciprocal of the recovery by spontaneous imbibition in most fluid-fluid-rock systems.
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