Immiscible Two-Phase Flow: Permeability & Fractional Flow — Lesson 1

This lesson covers the concept of flow through porous media, focusing on immiscible flow and relative permeability in two-phase flow. It explains how relative permeability is a function of saturation, surface tension, contact angle, and pore structure. The lesson also discusses the concept of drainable porosity and the role of interstitial water saturation. It introduces the Buckley Leverett method for predicting the flow of wetting phase into a core saturated with non-wetting phase. The lesson further explains the concept of fractional flow function and how it can be used to understand the flow of two phases in a porous medium. For instance, if you inject water into a core filled with oil, the water will gradually displace the oil, creating a saturation profile that can be analyzed using the fractional flow function.

Video Highlights

02:27 - Explanation of drainable porosity and interstitial water saturation
06:23 - Introduction to the Buckley Leverett method
21:15 - Explanation of fractional flow function

Key Takeaways

- Relative permeability in two-phase flow is a function of saturation, surface tension, contact angle, and pore structure.
- Drainable porosity refers to the porosity which can be drained, i.e., the porosity through which oil could be injected.
- The Buckley Leverett method is a well-known theory used for predicting the flow of wetting phase into a core saturated with non-wetting phase.
- Fractional flow function is a useful tool in understanding the flow of two phases in a porous medium.