14CSER039 - Interfacial dynamics in multiphase flow through porous rock
| Project number | 14CSER039 |
| Project title | Interfacial dynamics in multiphase flow through porous rock |
| Applicant(s) | Dr.ir. E.A.J.F. Peters, Dr.ir. J.T. Padding |
| Abstract | The dynamics of interfaces in multiphase ow through porous media is complex. A novel Lagrangian CFD method based on Voronoi cells is proposed for the study of such multiphase flows. When using water in so-called secondary oil recovery, much of the oil remains in porous rock because high interfacial tensions cause immobilization of the oil. One of the technologies to enhance oil mobility uses surfactant solutions. When these types of solutions come in touch with oil a complex micro-emulsion phase is created that has a low surface tension. We propose to develop the novel CFD methodology because it enables investigation of supra-pore-scale mechanisms that determine the dynamics of oil in rock in secondary and surfactant-enhanced oil recovery. The method will be validated using in-house micro-fluidic experiments. The final goal is to perform large scale parallelized simulations of multiphase flow in digitized rock samples. |
| Project budget | k€ 286 (includes 1 PhD student and material budget) |
| Duration | 2015 - 2018 |