The Velocity Dependence of Dynamic Capillary Pressure During Imbibition Displacement in Microscale Quartz Capillaries

• Published in: Petroleum science and technology Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 395 - 401
• Main Authors: Wang, Z. C., Gao, C. N., Lu, Y. C., Zhou, W. J., Wu, P. C., Li, X. F., Dong, J. F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 16.02.2014; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Capillarity; Capillary pressure; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; Crude oil, natural gas, oil shales producing equipements and methods; Displacement; dynamic capillary pressure; Dynamic tests; Dynamics; Energy; Enhanced oil recovery methods; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; imbibition; Liquids; oil recovery; Pressure drop; Prospecting and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil shales and tar sands; velocity dependence; Viscosity; water/oil viscosity ratio; dynamic capillary pressure; imbibition; water/oil viscosity ratio; velocity dependence; oil recovery
• ISSN: 1091-6466; 1532-2459
• DOI: 10.1080/10916466.2011.588636

Studies have been done to elucidate the velocity dependence of dynamic capillary pressure in the process of water displacing oil under constant pressure drops in hydrophilic capillaries with 0.92 μm in radius. Experimental results show that this dependence is closely correlated with the relative viscosities of the liquids involved. When the liquids are equal in viscosity, the displacement proceeds with constant rate and the dynamic capillary pressure stays almost unchanged, while it increases gradually with a increase in velocity in the case of water displacing more viscous oil, in contrast, it decreases gradually with a reduction in velocity when water displaces less viscous oil.