A level set method for determining critical curvatures for drainage and imbibition

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Fluid Dynamics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Accurate pore-level fluid displacement modeling is crucial for predicting multiphase flow in porous media.
• Current pore network models struggle with complex geometries and interface topological changes.
• Calculating constant mean curvature surfaces for interfaces in natural porous media is computationally challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robust method for modeling immiscible fluid displacement at the pore scale.
• To improve the accuracy of pore network models for capillary pressure-saturation curves, interfacial areas, and relative permeability.
• To effectively handle topological changes and complex interface geometries in porous media.

Main Methods:

• Application of the level set method for interface tracking and propagation.
• Development of a model for critical curvatures in throat drainage and pore imbibition.
• Extraction of pore-scale grain boundary conditions from model and real rock geometries.

Main Results:

• The level set method robustly handles topological changes and produces geometrically accurate interfaces.
• The developed model captures both reversible and irreversible displacement behaviors, including Haines jumps.
• Quantitative agreement was achieved with experimental measurements and other computational approaches.

Conclusions:

• The proposed level set method offers a significant improvement for pore-scale fluid displacement simulations.
• This approach enhances the predictive capabilities of pore network models for multiphase flow in porous media.
• The method provides a robust framework for analyzing fluid-fluid interfaces in complex geological formations.