An Experimental Investigation of Flow Regimes in Imbibition and Drainage Using a Microfluidic Platform

• DOI: 10.3390/en12071390
• Publication Date: 2019-04-12T07:46:37Z
• Authors: Feng Guo; Saman A. Aryana
• Keywords: Imbibition; Viscous fingering

Instabilities in immiscible displacement along fluid−fluid fronts porous media are undesirable many natural and engineered processes such as geological carbon sequestration enhanced oil recovery. In this study, a series of experiments conducted using microfluidic platform across wide range capillary numbers viscosity ratios. The device features water-wet medium, which is two-dimensional representation Berea sandstone. Data captured high-resolution camera, enabling visualization the entire domain, while being able to resolve small 10 µm. study reports correlation between fractal dimensions front patterns medium. Results mapped on parameter space log M Ca, stability diagrams proposed literature for drainage superimposed comparison. Compared recent literature, results work suggest that transition regimes may constitute slightly larger portion overall flow regime diagram. This two-phase helps elucidate macroscopic at continuum scale provides insights relevant recovery design exchange columns membranes.