A Two-Dimensional Network Simulator for Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media

Abstract

We investigate a two-dimensional network simulator that model the dynamics of drainage dominated flow where film flow can be neglected. We present a new method for simulating the temporal evolution of the pressure due to capillary and viscous forces in the displacement process. To model the dynamics, we let the local capillary pressure change as if the menisci move in and out of hour-glass shaped tubes. Furthermore, a method has been developed to allow simultaneous flow of two liquids into one tube. The model is suitable to simulate different time dependencies in two-phase drainage displacements. In this paper, we simulate the temporal evolution of the fluid pressures and analyze the time dependence of the front between the two liquids. The front width was found to be consistent with a scaling relation w ∝ tβ h(t/ts). The dynamical exponent, β, describing the front width evolution as function of time, was estimated to β = 1.0. The results are compared to experimental data of Frette and co-workers.