Capillary Physics in Porous Media — Lesson 2

This lesson covers the concept of flow through porous media, focusing on immiscible flow, relative permeability, and two-phase flow. It delves into the physics involved in the flow of two immiscible phases (like oil and water) through a porous medium. The lesson also explains the concept of Laplace pressure and how it is defined for a non-spherical cap. It further discusses the concept of contact angle, its measurement, and its significance in determining the wetting phase. The lesson concludes with the introduction of capillary pressure and its role in the simultaneous flow of oil and water through a pore.

Video Highlights

00:57 - Explanation of Laplace pressure for a non-spherical cap
08:57 - Understanding of contact angle and its measurement
24:24 - Introduction to capillary pressure and its role in oil and water flow

Key Takeaways

- Immiscible flow refers to the flow of two phases that do not mix, like oil and water, through a porous medium.
- Laplace pressure is defined differently for a non-spherical cap, taking into account multiple radii of curvature.
- The contact angle is a crucial factor in determining whether a phase is a wetting or non-wetting phase.
- Capillary pressure is the pressure difference that must be overcome for oil to enter a water-filled pore. It is defined as 2 sigma cos theta divided by r, where sigma is the surface tension, theta is the contact angle, and r is the radius of the capillary.