ISSN:
1573-1634
Keywords:
Drainage
;
imbibition
;
capillary pressure
;
pore
;
throat
;
relative permeability
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Technology
Notes:
Abstract Void spaces in porous media can be considered as three-dimensional networks consisting of bulges (pores) connected by constrictions (throats). Computer simulations of drainage-imbibition processes show that the critical end points of wetting-phase and nonwetting-phase saturation, in drainage and imbibition respectively, and the form of simulated relative permeability curves all were significantly different for uncorrelated and correlated pore-throat models. Since these models were identical except for the arrangement of throats in relation to pores, the degree of pore-throat size correlation appears to be an important property influencing flow and fluid displacement. Examples of uncorrelated and correlated pore-throat structures in rocks are presented and it is shown that this property, although difficult to quantify by direct observation, can be evaluated from capillary pressure curves.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00192157
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