A network model for gas invasion into porous media filled with yield-stress fluid

Abstract

This study investigates the gas invasion into a porous medium filled with a yield-stress fluid. A pore–throat network model is employed to represent the porous media, and a semi-analytical approach is used for simulating the gas propagation. The effect of throat radii, fluid yield stress and network size on the exit time and gas volume fraction retained inside the porous medium are explored. The stability of the network in response to inflow perturbations is also examined. The uniform network appears to be optimal from the perspective of preventing flow.