Effect of aperture field anisotropy on two-phase flow in rough fractures

Abstract

The void space geometry of rough fractures is one of most important factors controlling two-phase flow in fractured media. This paper presents a numerical study on the effect of aperture field anisotropy on two-phase flow properties in rough fractures. By using a power spectrum based method, we generate multiple realizations of synthetic rough fractures with aperture fields of different anisotropy factors. Fluid–fluid displacement in these fractures is simulated by a modified invasion percolation model. It is found that the spatiotemporal distribution of fluid phases is strongly influenced by the aperture field anisotropy. On average, both the nonwetting phase saturation and the entrapped wetting phase saturations at breakthrough decrease with increasing anisotropy factor; but the specific interfacial area is larger for a higher anisotropy ratio. Relative permeabilities to both phases in the direction parallel to the displacement increase with the anisotropy factor, indicating a reduced phase interference due to aperture field anisotropy. Empirical equations are proposed to link the relative permeabilities to the anisotropy factor. These results improve our understanding of immiscible displacement in rough fractures and can be useful for predicting two-phase flow in fractured media at the large scale where geomechanical and chemical processes produce anisotropic roughness.