PORE-SCALE MODEL FOR FLUID INJECTION AND IN-SITU GELATION IN POROUS-MEDIA

We examine immiscible fluid displacement in a porous material for the case where a polymerization reaction occurs at the interface between t wo fluid phases. A three-dimensional sphere-based network model is use d to study the process. An in situ reaction may affect the pore morpho logy, interfacial forces, or viscous forces, thereby altering the pres sure distribution and displacement pattern. The amount and manner in w hich the displacement pattern is affected depends on competing rates o f reaction versus convection. The model shows that at high-capillary-n umber displacements, a narrow range of reaction rates affects the disp lacement process, below which no effect is seen and above which the fl ow stops. As the capillary number decreases, this range widens but at the expense of the overall hydraulic conductivity. This phenomenon is explained using microscopic displacement patterns. An operating window can be drawn showing the how and reaction domain in which one would e xpect an interfacial reaction of this type to affect fluid displacemen t.