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Fingering Instability in Water-Oil Displacement

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Abstract

Following the classical Buckley–Leverett theory for the two-phase immiscible flows in porous media a non-linear evolution equation for the water-oil displacement front is formulated and studied numerically. The numerical simulations yield a physically plausible picture of the fingering instability known to develop in water-oil systems. A way to control the unrestricted growth of fingers is discussed. Distinctions and similarities with dynamically related Saffman–Taylor and Darrieus–Landau problems are outlined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mathematical Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel

    I. Brailovsky & G. Sivashinsky

  2. Heavy Oil and Oil Sands, Alberta Research Council, Edmonton, AL, T6N1E4, Canada

    A. Babchin

  3. Department of Mathematical Sciences, Indiana University – Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202-3216, USA

    M. Frankel

Authors
  1. I. Brailovsky
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  2. A. Babchin
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  3. M. Frankel
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  4. G. Sivashinsky
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Correspondence to G. Sivashinsky.

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Brailovsky, I., Babchin, A., Frankel, M. et al. Fingering Instability in Water-Oil Displacement. Transp Porous Med 63, 363–380 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-005-8430-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-005-8430-z

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