A pore-scale network approach to investigate dynamic effects in multiphase flow

Current theories of multiphase flow rely on capillary pressure and saturationships that are traditionally measured under static conditions. To make the description of multiphase flow more complete, new multiphase flow theories have been proposed that include an extended capillary pressure-saturation relationship that is valid under dynamic dynamic capillary pressure, and is assumed to be a function of the saturation and its time rate of change.In this work, this relationship is investigated using a pore-scale network model. This model consists of a three-dimensional network of tubes (pore throats) connected to each other by pore bodies. The pore bodies are spheres and pore throats are cylinders. Numerical experiments are performed wherein typical experimental procedures for both static and dynamic measurements of capillary pressure-saturation curves are simulated. From these, dynamic coefficient τ is found to be a function of wetting fluid saturation.