Pore Level Visualization of Foam Flow in a Silicon Micromodel
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- This paper is concerned with the behavior of foam in porous media at the pore level. Identical, heterogeneous silicon micromodels, two dimensionally etched to replicate flow in Berea Sandstone, were used. The models, already saturated with varying concentrations of surfactant and, at times, oil were invaded with air. Visual observations were made of these air displacement events in an effort to determine foam flow characteristics with varying surfactant concentrations, and differing surfactants in the presence of oil. These displacement events were recorded on video tape. These tapes are available at the Stanford University Petroleum Research Institute, Stanford, California.The observed air flow characteristics can be broadly classified into two: continuous and discontinuous. Continuous air flow was observed in two phase runs when the micromodel contained no aqueous surfactant solution. Air followed a tortuous path to the outlet, splitting and reconnecting around grains, isolating water located in dead-end or circumvented pores, all without breaking and forming bubbles. No foam was created. Discontinuous air flow occurred in runs containing surfactant - with smaller bubble sizes appearing with higher surfactant concentrations. Air moved through the medium by way of modified bubble train flow where bubbles travel through pore throats and tend to reside more statically in larger pore bodies until enough force is applied to move them along. The lamellae were stable, and breaking and reforming events by liquid drainage and comer flow were observed in higher surfactant concentrations. However, the classic snap-off process, as described by Roof (1973) was not seen at all.With oil, we saw coarser bubble texture along with stable water lenses between gas. Events consistent with the drainage of thin spreading oil layers, as well as the collapse of a water film between oil and gas were observed.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Date created | June 1995 |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Woody, Frederick |
|---|---|
| Primary advisor | Blunt, Martin J. |
| Degree granting institution | Stanford University, Department of Petroleum Engineering |
Subjects
| Subject | School of Earth Energy & Environmental Sciences |
|---|---|
| Genre | Thesis |
Bibliographic information
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Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
- Woody, Frederick. (1995). Pore Level Visualization of Foam Flow in a Silicon Micromodel. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at: https://purl.stanford.edu/fr604hf8956
Collection
Master's Theses, Doerr School of Sustainability
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