Three-phase flow displacement dynamics and Haines jumps in a hydrophobic porous medium.

ABSTRACT: We use synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography to investigate the displacement dynamics during three-phase-oil, water and gas-flow in a hydrophobic porous medium. We observe a distinct gas invasion pattern, where gas progresses through the pore space in the form of disconnected clusters mediated by double and multiple displacement events. Gas advances in a process we name three-phase Haines jumps, during which gas re-arranges its configuration in the pore space, retracting from some regions to enable the rapid filling of multiple pores. The gas retraction leads to a permanent disconnection of gas ganglia, which do not reconnect as gas injection proceeds. We observe, in situ, the direct displacement of oil and water by gas as well as gas-oil-water double displacement. The use of local

SUBMITTER: Alhosani A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7776970 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature