A level set method for determining critical curvatures for drainage and imbibition

摘要: An accurate description of the mechanics pore level displacement immiscible fluids could significantly improve predictions from network models capillary pressure-saturation curves, interfacial areas and relative permeability in real porous media. If we assume quasi-static displacement, at constant pressure surface tension, scale interfaces are modeled as mean curvature surfaces, which not easy to calculate. Moreover, extremely irregular geometry natural media makes it difficult evaluate values corresponding geometric configurations two fluids. Finally, accounting for topological changes interface, such splitting or merging, is nontrivial. We apply set method tracking propagating order robustly handle obtain geometrically correct interfaces. describe a simple but robust model determining critical curvatures throat drainage imbibition. The up displacements nevertheless captures both reversible irreversible behavior (Haines jump, body imbibition). grain boundary conditions extracted imaged geometries rocks. gives quantitative agreement with measurements other theories computational approaches.