Abstract
Relative permeabilities were measured at very low interfacial tensions (IFT) for two-phase mixtures of methanol and hexane flowing through Clashach sandstone. These two components pass from a two- to a single-phase system as the temperature is increased above the critical solution temperature (CST). The interfacial tension between the coexisting phases approaches zero as the solution reaches miscibility. The phase behaviour of methanol and hexane mixtures has been well characterised allowing the calculation of relative permeabilities, saturations and capillary numbers. Flow data are reported for four different temperatures in the two-phase region (i.e., four values of IFT and capillary number). The capillary desaturation curve (CDC) for the strongly wetting methanol rich phase is also presented. In addition to the novel technique presented for measurement of relative permeability, the results indicate that relative permeabilities approach straight line functions very near the critical point. Furthermore, desaturation of the wetting phase was found to be dependent on the capillary number which, in turn, depends on the location of the mixture on the fluid phase diagram and the proximity to the critical temperature.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Asar, J. and Handy, L. L., 1983, Influence of interfacial tension of gas-oil relative permeability in a gas-condensate system, Calif. Regional Meeting of SPE, 687–698.
Bardon, C. and Longeron, D. G., 1980, Influence of very low interfacial tension on relative permeability,Soc. Pet. Eng. J., 391–401.
Cahn, J. W., 1976, Critical point wetting,J. Chem. Phys. 66, 3667.
Chefike, B., 1989, Polymer-surfactant interaction, Ph.D. Dissertation, Dept. of Physical Chemistry, University of Bristol.
Delshad, M., 1981, Measurement of relative permeability and dispersion for micellar fluids in berea rock, M. S. Thesis, The University of Texas at Austin.
Delshad, M., 1986, A study of micellar fluids in porous media, Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Texas at Austin.
Fleming III, P. D. and Vinaieri, J. E., 1981, The role of critical phenomena in oil recovery systems employing surfactants,J. Coll. Int. Sci 81, 319–331.
Jones, S. C. and Roszelle, W. O., 1978, Graphical techniques for determining relative permeability from displacement experiments,J. Petrol. Technol., May (1978),Trans., AIME,265, 807–817.
Lake, L. W., 1989,Enhanced Oil Recovery, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey.
Ma, Shang-keng, 1976,Modern Theory of Critical Phenomena, Benjamin Cummings, Reading, Mass.
Moldover, M. R., 1985, Interfacial tension of fluids near critical points and two-scale factor universality,Physical review A,31 1022.
Morrow, N. R., Chatzis, I., and Taber, J. J., 1988, Entrapment and mobilization of residual oil in bead packs,Soc. Pet. Eng. J. 3, 927–934.
Papaioannou, A. T., Davis, H. T., and Scriven, L. E., 1984, Viscosity of microemulsion versus salinity,Surfactants in Solution 6, Plenum Press, 1213.
Schechter, D. S., 1988, Immiscible flow behaviour in porous media, PhD Dissertation, Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Bristol, England.
Stegemeier, G. L. and Hough, E. W., 1961, Interfacial tension of the methane-n-pentane system,Prod. Monthly 25, 8–12.
Stein, Sherman K. (ed.), 1981,Calculus and Analytic Geometry, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Wagner, O. R. and Leach, R. O., Dec. 1966, Effect of interfacial tension on displacement efficiency,Soc. Pet. Eng. J., 335–344.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schechter, D.S., Haynes, J.M. Relative permeabilities of a near critical binary fluid. Transp Porous Med 9, 241–260 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00611969
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00611969