Quantification of nonlinear multiphase flow in porous media

Zhang, Y. , Bijeljic, B., Gao, Y., Lin, Q. and Blunt, M. J. (2021) Quantification of nonlinear multiphase flow in porous media. Geophysical Research Letters, 48(5), e2020GL090. (doi: 10.1029/2020GL090477)

Abstract

We measure the pressure difference during two-phase flow across a sandstone sample for a range of injection rates and fractional flows of water, the wetting phase, during an imbibition experiment. We quantify the onset of a transition from a linear relationship between flow rate and pressure gradient to a nonlinear power-law dependence. We show that the transition from linear (Darcy) to nonlinear flow and the exponent in the power-law is a function of fractional flow. We use energy balance to accurately predict the onset of intermittency for a range of fractional flows, fluid viscosities, and different rock types.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Zhang, Dr Yihuai
• Authors: Zhang, Y., Bijeljic, B., Gao, Y., Lin, Q., and Blunt, M. J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0094-8276
• ISSN (Online): 1944-8007
• Published Online: 01 February 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in Geophysical Research Letters 48(5): e2020GL090
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License