The Impact of Wettability on Dynamic Fluid Connectivity and Flow Transport Kinetics in Porous Media

Usually, models describing flow and transport for sub-surface engineering processes at the Darcy-scale do not take into consideration the effects of pore-scale flow regimes and fluid connectivity on average flow functions. In this article, we investigate the impact of wettability on pore-scale flow regimes. We show that fluid connectivity at the pore scale has a significant impact on average flow kinetics and therefore its contribution should not be ignored. Immiscible two-phase flow simulations were performed in a two-dimensional model of a Berea sandstone rock for wettability conditions ranging from moderately water-wet to strongly oil-wet. The simulation results show that wettability has a strong impact on invading fluid phase connectivity, which subsequently influences flow transport resistance. The effect of invading-phase connectivity and ganglion dynamics (GD) on two-phase displacement kinetics was also investigated. It was found that invading phase connectivity decreases away from the neutrally wet (intermediate wet) state. This study provides evidence that GD accelerate fluid flow transport kinetics during immiscible displacement processes. Lastly, the impact of wettability on fluid displacement efficiency and residual saturations was investigated. Maximum displacement efficiency occurred at the neutrally wet state.

Automated summary

This study explores the effects of wettability on pore-scale flow regimes and fluid connectivity in sub-surface engineering processes. The results show that wettability significantly impacts average flow kinetics and invading phase connectivity, which in turn influences flow transport resistance and displacement kinetics. Additionally, it is found that gas ganglion dynamics accelerate fluid flow transport kinetics. Maximum fluid displacement efficiency occurs at the neutrally wet state.