Analytical model for gravity segregation of horizontal multiphase flow in porous media
Date
2020
Authors
Rabinovich, A.
Bedrikovetsky, P.
Tartakovsky, D.M.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Physics of Fluids, 2020; 32(4):046602-1-046602-15
Statement of Responsibility
Avinoam Rabinovich, Pavel Bedrikovetsky, and Daniel M. Tartakovsky
Conference Name
Abstract
Simultaneous horizontal injection of two immiscible fluids into a porous medium gives rise to three regions of constant saturation. Due to gravity impact, the region with fluid saturation reflecting the volume fraction and viscosity ratio of the injected fluids morphs into two horizontal layers fully saturated with one fluid or the other. The location of the discontinuity separating constant saturation regions is often estimated with the Stone–Jenkins (SJ) formula. Our numerical simulations of multiphase flow in porous media demonstrate that, for a wide range of hydraulic parameters of practical significance, the SJ formula has substantial error. We derive an approximate analytical solution, which neglects the vertical component of flow velocity and introduces a correction factor to enforce mass conservation. Comparison with numerical simulations reveals that our solution is accurate in the parameter regimes for which the SJ formula is not and vice versa. The two solutions are complementary, covering the entire range of physically realizable parameters.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
© 2020 Author(s). Published under license by AIP Publishing