Numerical Analysis of Foam Motion in Porous Media Using a New Stochastic Bubble Population Model

• Published in: Transport in porous media Vol. 86; no. 2; pp. 461 - 474
• Main Authors: Du, D. X., Zitha, P. L. J., Vermolen, F. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bubbles; Civil Engineering; Classical and Continuum Physics; Computed tomography; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Hydrocarbons; Hydrogeology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Mathematical models; Nonlinear differential equations; Nonlinear equations; Numerical analysis; Parameter sensitivity; Parametric analysis; Partial differential equations; Pollution, environment geology; Population balance models; Porous media; Saturation; Sedimentary rocks; Sensitivity analysis; Porous media; Foam flow; Numerical analysis; Stochastic bubble population model; experimental studies; models; density; pressure; transport; saturation; balance; numerical analysis; porous media; populations; methodology; theory
• ISSN: 0169-3913; 1573-1634
• DOI: 10.1007/s11242-010-9631-7

We present a numerical analysis of the stochastic population balance (SPB) theory for foam motion in porous media. The theory condenses into a set of non-linear partial differential equations in the saturation, pressure, and bubble density. We solve the equations using the IMPES method and perform sensitivity and parametric analysis. Finally, we compare the saturation profiles obtained numerically with those obtained from CT scan foam experiments. The agreement between the theory and experiments confirms that the stochastic population balance model describes adequately foam dynamics in porous media.