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Journal of Porous Media

ISSN for PRINT: 1091-028X

Institutional price:	$713.00
Issues per year:	8

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2007, Volume10

97 pages

Issue price - $99.00

New Viscous Fingering Mechanisms at High Viscosity Ratio and Peclet Number Miscible Displacements

M. N. Islam
Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada

Jalel Azaiez
University of Calgary

ABSTRACT

Full nonlinear simulation of the viscous fingering instability of miscible flow displacements in a rectilinear Hele-Shaw cell are conducted using a hybrid numerical algorithm. The algorithm allowed the modeling of the flow at relatively high values of the mobility ratio and Peclet number, representing the ratio of convective and dispersive forces. New finger structures, some reminiscent of fractal patterns observed in previous experimental studies, are reported. An explanation of the mechanisms responsible for the new finger structures is presented based on the development of the flow velocity field. The flow is also characterized qualitatively through a spectral analysis of the average concentration and an analysis of the variations of the relative finger width and relative contact area. General observations regarding the conditions for the development of complex finger structures are presented.