Details
| Originalsprache | Englisch |
|---|---|
| Aufsatznummer | e2023WR034958 |
| Fachzeitschrift | Water resources research |
| Jahrgang | 59 |
| Ausgabenummer | 9 |
| Frühes Online-Datum | 4 Sept. 2023 |
| Publikationsstatus | Veröffentlicht - 21 Sept. 2023 |
Abstract
Two-phase flow involving non-Newtonian fluids in fractured media is of vital importance in many natural processes and subsurface engineering applications, such as rock grouting, groundwater remediation, and enhanced oil recovery. Yet, how the displacement dynamics is impacted by the non-Newtonian rheology remains an open question. Here, we conduct primary drainage experiments in which a shear-thinning Xanthan gum solution displaces a silicone oil in a transparent rough fracture for a wide range of shear-thinning property (controlled by polymer concentration) and flow rates. We first evaluate the effects of shear-thinning property on displacement efficiency. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses of the observed fluid morphologies, we present an experimental phase diagram of the obtained displacement patterns. We characterize a novel displacement pattern where the fluid-fluid interface changes from stable (plug flow) to unstable (fingering) as the fracture aperture, averaged over the transverse direction, varies along the mean flow direction. We demonstrate that the existence of this mixed displacement pattern can be explained by local viscosity heterogeneity induced by the coupling of the shear-thinning behavior and the spatial variability of apertures. Finally, we propose a theoretical model elucidating the mechanisms behind the flow regime transitions. The interface stability criterion predicted by this model exhibits good agreement with the experimental measurements, and stresses the potentially important role of fluid rheology, coupled to aperture variability, in immiscible displacements in rough fractures. These findings provide new insights into the dynamics of immiscible two-phase flows with non-Newtonian effects, and has potential implications for the aforementioned engineering applications.
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
- Umweltwissenschaften (insg.)
- Gewässerkunde und -technologie
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in: Water resources research, Jahrgang 59, Nr. 9, e2023WR034958, 21.09.2023.
Publikation: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift › Artikel › Forschung › Peer-Review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Displacement Patterns of a Newtonian Fluid by a Shear-Thinning Fluid in a Rough Fracture
AU - Zhang, Le
AU - Yang, Zhibing
AU - Méheust, Yves
AU - Neuweiler, Insa
AU - Hu, Ran
AU - Chen, Yi Feng
N1 - Funding Information: Funding support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 51988101, 42077177 and 51925906) is acknowledged.
PY - 2023/9/21
Y1 - 2023/9/21
N2 - Two-phase flow involving non-Newtonian fluids in fractured media is of vital importance in many natural processes and subsurface engineering applications, such as rock grouting, groundwater remediation, and enhanced oil recovery. Yet, how the displacement dynamics is impacted by the non-Newtonian rheology remains an open question. Here, we conduct primary drainage experiments in which a shear-thinning Xanthan gum solution displaces a silicone oil in a transparent rough fracture for a wide range of shear-thinning property (controlled by polymer concentration) and flow rates. We first evaluate the effects of shear-thinning property on displacement efficiency. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses of the observed fluid morphologies, we present an experimental phase diagram of the obtained displacement patterns. We characterize a novel displacement pattern where the fluid-fluid interface changes from stable (plug flow) to unstable (fingering) as the fracture aperture, averaged over the transverse direction, varies along the mean flow direction. We demonstrate that the existence of this mixed displacement pattern can be explained by local viscosity heterogeneity induced by the coupling of the shear-thinning behavior and the spatial variability of apertures. Finally, we propose a theoretical model elucidating the mechanisms behind the flow regime transitions. The interface stability criterion predicted by this model exhibits good agreement with the experimental measurements, and stresses the potentially important role of fluid rheology, coupled to aperture variability, in immiscible displacements in rough fractures. These findings provide new insights into the dynamics of immiscible two-phase flows with non-Newtonian effects, and has potential implications for the aforementioned engineering applications.
AB - Two-phase flow involving non-Newtonian fluids in fractured media is of vital importance in many natural processes and subsurface engineering applications, such as rock grouting, groundwater remediation, and enhanced oil recovery. Yet, how the displacement dynamics is impacted by the non-Newtonian rheology remains an open question. Here, we conduct primary drainage experiments in which a shear-thinning Xanthan gum solution displaces a silicone oil in a transparent rough fracture for a wide range of shear-thinning property (controlled by polymer concentration) and flow rates. We first evaluate the effects of shear-thinning property on displacement efficiency. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses of the observed fluid morphologies, we present an experimental phase diagram of the obtained displacement patterns. We characterize a novel displacement pattern where the fluid-fluid interface changes from stable (plug flow) to unstable (fingering) as the fracture aperture, averaged over the transverse direction, varies along the mean flow direction. We demonstrate that the existence of this mixed displacement pattern can be explained by local viscosity heterogeneity induced by the coupling of the shear-thinning behavior and the spatial variability of apertures. Finally, we propose a theoretical model elucidating the mechanisms behind the flow regime transitions. The interface stability criterion predicted by this model exhibits good agreement with the experimental measurements, and stresses the potentially important role of fluid rheology, coupled to aperture variability, in immiscible displacements in rough fractures. These findings provide new insights into the dynamics of immiscible two-phase flows with non-Newtonian effects, and has potential implications for the aforementioned engineering applications.
KW - fingering
KW - immiscible displacement
KW - interface stability
KW - non-Newtonian fluid
KW - rough fracture
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85171777584&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2023WR034958
DO - 10.1029/2023WR034958
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85171777584
VL - 59
JO - Water resources research
JF - Water resources research
SN - 0043-1397
IS - 9
M1 - e2023WR034958
ER -