Abstract
Fingering instabilities develop when a low-viscous fluid displaces a high-viscous fluid in porous media; they are unfavored in various natural and industrial processes. Classical Hele-Shaw studies of viscous fingering have not addressed the role of surface wettability heterogeneity, a common property of many natural and engineered solid surfaces. We describe an experimental investigation of the effect of wettability heterogeneity on flow behavior in radial Hele-Shaw cells. The density, distribution, and orientation of wettability defects are considered in the analysis. Results show that uniformly/randomly distributed wettability defects can roughen finger boundaries, broaden growth regions, and increase displacement efficiency. However, the distribution and orientation of wettability heterogeneities also determine whether viscous fingering is suppressed or enhanced. Lower flow rates enhance capillary and wetting phenomena and magnify wettability effects on the displacement pattern. Displacement efficiencies ranging from 0.936 to 0.508 are observed when viscous fingering is suppressed and enhanced, respectively. Our study provides insights into the interpretation of flow phenomena and potential manipulation of fingering instabilities in heterogeneous porous media.
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Acknowledgements
The research reported in this paper was supported by the University of Texas at Austin's Research Consortium on Formation Evaluation, jointly sponsored by Anadarko, Aramco, Baker Hughes, BHP, BP, Chevron, China Oilfield Services Limited, CNOOC International, ConocoPhillips, DEA, Eni, Equinor ASA, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, INPEX, Lundin Norway, Occidental, Oil Search, Petrobras, Repsol, Schlumberger, Shell, Southwestern, Total, Wintershall-Dea, and Woodside Petroleum Limited. Zhonghao Sun is thankful for the financial support by the Qin Chuangyuan Innovation Plan of Shaanxi Province (Project No. 2021QCYRC4-45). Carlos Torres-Verdin is thankful for the financial support provided by the Brian James Jennings Memorial Endowed Chair in Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering.
Funding
The research reported in this paper was supported by the University of Texas at Austin's Research Consortium on Formation Evaluation. Zhonghao Sun is thankful for the financial support by the Qin Chuangyuan Innovation Plan of Shaanxi Province (Project No. 2021QCYRC4-45). Carlos Torres-Verdin is thankful for the financial support provided by the Brian James Jennings Memorial Endowed Chair in Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering.
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ZS: conducting experiments, data analysis and interpretation, drafting the manuscript. CT-V: conception of the work, critical revision of the manuscript.
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Sun, Z., Torres-Verdín, C. Flow behavior in a radial Hele-Shaw cell with wettability heterogeneities. Exp Fluids 64, 124 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-023-03660-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-023-03660-5