Abstract
We investigate the development foam in granular porous media and the subsequent flow of the surfactant solution, where the fluid fraction variations are visualized and quantified using X-ray computed tomography. It is found that foam flows in a front like manner leading to a residual liquid fraction of 0.18±0.01, far from the inlet surface of the porous sample. A desaturation backward wave is also observed during foam development. We provided direct evidence that the flow of surfactant solution in porous media containing foam gives rise to superposition of a drainage wave and a characteristic viscous fingering pattern. In the wave the liquid fraction ranges from the above residual value to nearly 0.25±0.01. The liquid fraction associated with the viscous fingering decays as a function of distance but the inlet value increases up to 0.06±0.01. Certain ideas about the physics of foam flow in porous media are revised in the light of our findings.
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Zitha, P.L.J., Nguyen, Q.P., Currie, P.K. et al. Coupling of Foam Drainage and Viscous Fingering in Porous Media Revealed by X-ray Computed Tomography. Transp Porous Med 64, 301–313 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-005-4166-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-005-4166-z