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Wettability effects on multiphase displacements in heterogeneous porous media by microfluidic experiments
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  • Wenhai Lei,
  • Xukang Lu,
  • Haien Yang,
  • Tianjiang Wu,
  • Moran Wang
Wenhai Lei
Tsinghua University
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Xukang Lu
Tsinghua University
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Haien Yang
Oil & Gas Technology Research Institute of Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina
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Tianjiang Wu
Oil & Gas Technology Research Institute of Changqing Oilfield Company
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Moran Wang
Tsinghua University

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Abstract

We have studied wettability effects on multiphase displacements in heterogeneous porous media by experiments on microfluidic chips. The developed experimental and analysis methods link pore-scale physics and macroscopic consequences. By varying fluid properties with a wide range of wettability, we find a non-monotonic wettability effect on displacement efficiency on heterogeneous structures, in contrast to a monotonic one on homogeneous matrix. For the flow on heterogeneous porous media, there is a critical wettability for the best displacement efficiency. Pore-scale mechanisms are identified to elucidate these behaviors: the cooperative pore filling in an intermediate water-wet condition cause the maximum displacement efficiency; the corner flow under a strong water-wet condition and Haines events under a strong oil-wet condition will decrease displacement efficiency. Our findings shed unique insights on how the interaction between fluid wettability and structure heterogeneity affects fluid displacement in porous media.