Immiscible displacements in porous media with both capillary and viscous effects can be characterized by two dimensionless numbers, the capillary number C, which is the ratio of viscous forces to capillary forces, and the ratio M of the two viscosities. For certain values of these numbers, either viscous or capillary forces dominate and displacement takes one of the basic forms: (a) viscous fingering, (b) capillary fingering or (c) stable displacement. We present a study in the simple case of injection of a non-wetting fluid into a two-dimensional porous medium made of interconnected capillaries. The first part of this paper presents the results of network simulators (100 × 100 and 25 × 25 pores) based on the physical rules of the displacement at the pore scale. The second part describes a series of experiments performed in transparent etched networks. Both the computer simulations and the experiments cover a range of several decades in C and M. They clearly show the existence of the three basic domains (capillary fingering, viscous fingering and stable displacement) within which the patterns remain unchanged. The domains of validity of the three different basic mechanisms are mapped onto the plane with axes C and M, and this mapping represents the ‘phase-diagram’ for drainage. In the final section we present three statistical models (percolation, diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) and anti-DLA) which can be used for describing the three ‘basic’ domains of the phase-diagram.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022112088000953

Numerical models and experiments on immiscible displacements in porous media

[1] Non-Fickian (or anomalous) transport of contaminants has been observed at field and laboratory scales in a wide variety of porous and fractured geological formations. Over many years a basic challenge to the hydrology community has been to develop a theoretical framework that quantitatively accounts for this widespread phenomenon. Recently, continuous time random walk (CTRW) formulations have been demonstrated to provide general and effective means to quantify non-Fickian transport. We introduce and develop the CTRW framework from its conceptual picture of transport through its mathematical development to applications relevant to laboratoryand field-scale systems. The CTRW approach contrasts with ones used extensively on the basis of the advectiondispersion equation and use of upscaling, volume averaging, and homogenization. We examine the underlying assumptions, scope, and differences of these approaches, as well as stochastic formulations, relative to CTRW. We argue why these methods have not been successful in fitting actual measurements. The CTRW has now been developed within the framework of partial differential equations and has been generalized to apply to nonstationary domains and interactions with immobile states (matrix effects). We survey models based on multirate mass transfer (mobile-immobile) and fractional derivatives and show their connection as subsets within the CTRW framework.

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2005RG000178

Modeling non‐Fickian transport in geological formations as a continuous time random walk

A modeling approach for analysis of coupled multiphase fluid flow, heat transfer, and deformation in fractured porous rock

The role of porous media in modeling flow and heat transfer in biological tissues

For the special case of a stratified porous medium with flow parallel to the bedding it is shown that the transport of solute cannot, in general, be represented by the usual convection-diffusion equation, even for large time. The necessary conditions for the appearance of a Fickian diffusive process are discussed and compared with previous work done by Gelhar et al. (1979) and Marie et al. (1967). It is shown, however, that when the flow is not exactly parallel to the stratification, diffusive behavior is much more likely to appear. The need for further work on the mechanism of transport in porous media is then emphasized.

Is transport in porous media always diffusive? A counterexample

A General Theory.- 1 The Porous Medium.- 1.1 Definition and Classification of Porous Media.- 1.1.1 Definition of a porous medium.- 1.1.2 Classification of porous media.- 1.1.3 Some geometrical characteristics of porous media.- 1.1.4 Homogeneity and isotropy of a porous medium.- 1.2 The Continuum Model of a Porous Medium.- 1.2.1 The need for a continuum approach.- 1.2.2 Representative Elementary Volume (REV).- 1.2.3 Selection of REV.- 1.2.4 Representative Elementary Area (REA).- 1.3 Macroscopic Values.- 1.3.1 Volume and mass averages.- 1.3.2 Areal averages.- 1.3.3 Relationship between volume and areal averages.- 1.4 Higher-Order Averaging.- 1.4.1 Smoothing out macroscopic heterogeneity.- 1.4.2 The hydraulic approach.- 1.4.3 Compartmental models.- 1.5 Multicontinuum Models.- 1.5.1 Fractured porous media.- 1.5.2 Multilayer systems.- 2 Macroscopic Description of Transport Phenomena in Porous Media.- 2.1 Elements of Kinematics of Continua.- 2.1.1 Points and particles.- 2.1.2 Coordinates.- 2.1.3 Displacement and strain.- 2.1.4 Processes.- 2.1.5 Material derivative.- 2.1.6 Velocities.- 2.1.7 Flux and discharge.- 2.1.8 Gauss' theorem.- 2.1.9 Reynolds' transport theorem.- 2.1.10 Green's vector theorem.- 2.1.11 Pathlines, transport lines and transport functions.- 2.1.12 Velocity potential and complex potential.- 2.1.13 Movement of a front.- 2.2 Microscopic Balance and Constitutive Equations.- 2.2.1 Derivation of balance equations.- 2.2.2 Particular cases of balance equations.- 2.2.3 Constitutive equations.- 2.2.4 Coupled transport phenomena.- 2.2.5 Phase equilibrium.- 2.3 Averaging Rules.- 2.3.1 Average of a sum.- 2.3.2 Average of a product.- 2.3.3 Average of a time derivative.- 2.3.4 Average of a spatial derivative.- 2.3.5 Average of a spatial derivative of a scalar satisfying ?2G = 0.- 2.3.6 The coefficient T?*.- 2.3.7 Average of a material derivative.- 2.4 Macroscopic Balance Equations.- 2.4.1 General balance equation.- 2.4.2 Mass balance of a phase.- 2.4.3 Volume balance of a phase.- 2.4.4 Mass balance equation for a component of a phase.- 2.4.5 Balance equation for the linear momentum of a phase.- 2.4.6 Heat balance for a phase and for a saturated porous medium.- 2.4.7 Mass balance in a fractured porous medium.- 2.4.8 Megascopic balance equation.- 2.5 Stress and Strain in a Porous Medium.- 2.5.1 Total stress.- 2.5.2 Effective stress.- 2.5.3 Forces acting on the solid matrix.- 2.6 Macroscopic Fluxes.- 2.6.1 Advective flux of a single Newtonian fluid.- 2.6.2 Advective fluxes in a multiphase system.- 2.6.3 Diffusive flux.- 2.6.4 Dispersive flux.- 2.6.5 Transport coefficients.- 2.6.6 Coupled fluxes.- 2.6.7 Macrodispersive flux.- 2.7 Macroscopic Boundary Conditions.- 2.7.1 Macroscopic boundary.- 2.7.2 The general boundary condition.- 2.7.3 Boundary conditions between two porous media in single phase flow.- 2.7.4 Boundary conditions between two porous media in multiphase flow.- 2.7.5 Boundary between two fluids.- 2.7.6 Boundary with a 'well mixed's vector theorem.- 2.1.11 Pathlines, transport lines and transport functions.- 2.1.12 Velocity potential and complex potential.- 2.1.13 Movement of a front.- 2.2 Microscopic Balance and Constitutive Equations.- 2.2.1 Derivation of balance equations.- 2.2.2 Particular cases of balance equations.- 2.2.3 Constitutive equations.- 2.2.4 Coupled transport phenomena.- 2.2.5 Phase equilibrium.- 2.3 Averaging Rules.- 2.3.1 Average of a sum.- 2.3.2 Average of a product.- 2.3.3 Average of a time derivative.- 2.3.4 Average of a spatial derivative.- 2.3.5 Average of a spatial derivative of a scalar satisfying ?2G = 0.- 2.3.6 The coefficient T?*.- 2.3.7 Average of a material derivative.- 2.4 Macroscopic Balance Equations.- 2.4.1 General balance equation.- 2.4.2 Mass balance of a phase.- 2.4.3 Volume balance of a phase.- 2.4.4 Mass balance equation for a component of a phase.- 2.4.5 Balance equation for the linear momentum of a phase.- 2.4.6 Heat balance for a phase and for a saturated porous medium.- 2.4.7 Mass balance in a fractured porous medium.- 2.4.8 Megascopic balance equation.- 2.5 Stress and Strain in a Porous Medium.- 2.5.1 Total stress.- 2.5.2 Effective stress.- 2.5.3 Forces acting on the solid matrix.- 2.6 Macroscopic Fluxes.- 2.6.1 Advective flux of a single Newtonian fluid.- 2.6.2 Advective fluxes in a multiphase system.- 2.6.3 Diffusive flux.- 2.6.4 Dispersive flux.- 2.6.5 Transport coefficients.- 2.6.6 Coupled fluxes.- 2.6.7 Macrodispersive flux.- 2.7 Macroscopic Boundary Conditions.- 2.7.1 Macroscopic boundary.- 2.7.2 The general boundary condition.- 2.7.3 Boundary conditions between two porous media in single phase flow.- 2.7.4 Boundary conditions between two porous media in multiphase flow.- 2.7.5 Boundary between two fluids.- 2.7.6 Boundary with a 'well mixed' domain.- 2.7.7 Boundary with fluid phase change.- 2.7.8 Boundary between a porous medium and an overlying body of flowing fluid.- 3 Mathematical Statement of a Transport Problem.- 3.1 Standard Content of a Problem Statement.- 3.1.1 Conceptual model.- 3.1.2 Mathematical model.- 3.2 Multicontinuum Models.- 3.3 Deletion of Nondominant Effects.- 3.3.1 Methodology.- 3.3.2 Examples.- 3.3.3 Concluding remarks.- B Application.- 4 Mass Transport of a Single Fluid Phase Under Isothermal Conditions.- 4.1 Mass Balance Equations.- 4.1.1 The basic equation.- 4.1.2 Stationary rigid porous medium.- 4.1.3 Deformable porous medium.- 4.2 Boundary Conditions.- 4.2.1 Boundary of prescribed pressure or head.- 4.2.2 Boundary of prescribed mass flux.- 4.2.3 Semipervious boundary.- 4.2.4 Discontinuity in solid matrix properties.- 4.2.5 Sharp interface between two fluids.- 4.2.6 Phreatic surface.- 4.2.7 Seepage face.- 4.3 Complete Mathematical Model.- 4.4 Inertial Effects.- 5 Mass Transport of Multiple Fluid Phases Under Isothermal Conditions.- 5.1 Hydrostatics of a Multiphase System.- 5.1.1 Interfacial tension and capillary pressure.- 5.1.2 Capillary pressure curves.- 5.1.3 Three fluid phases.- 5.1.4 Saturation at medium discontinuity.- 5.2 Advective Fluxes.- 5.2.1 Two fluids.- 5.2.2 Two-phase effective permeability.- 5.2.3 Three-phase effective permeability.- 5.3 Mass Balance Equations.- 5.3.1 Basic equations.- 5.3.2 Nondeformable porous medium.- 5.3.3 Deformable porous medium.- 5.3.4 Buckley-Leverett approximation.- 5.3.5 Flow with interphase mass transfer.- 5.3.6 Immobile fluid phase.- 5.4 Complete Model of Multiphase Flow.- 5.4.1 Boundary and initial conditions.- 5.4.2 Complete model.- 5.4.3 Saturated-unsaturated flow domain.- 6 Transport of a Component in a Fluid Phase Under Isothermal Conditions.- 6.1 Balance Equation for a Component of a Phase.- 6.1.1 The dispersive flux.- 6.1.2 Diffusive flux.- 6.1.3 Sources and sinks at the solid-fluid interface.- 6.1.4 Sources and sinks within the liquid phase.- 6.1.5 Mass balance equation for a single component.- 6.1.6 Variable fluid density and deformable porous medium.- 6.1.7 Balance equations with immobile liquid.- 6.1.8 Fractured porous media.- 6.2 Boundary Conditions.- 6.2.1 Boundary of prescribed concentration.- 6.2.2 Boundary of prescribed flux.- 6.2.3 Boundary between two porous media.- 6.2.4 Boundary with a body of fluid.- 6.2.5 Boundary between two fluids.- 6.2.6 Phreatic surface.- 6.2.7 Seepage face.- 6.3 Complete Mathematical Model.- 6.4 Multicomponent systems.- 6.4.1 Radionuclide and other decay chains.- 6.4.2 Two multicomponent phases.- 6.4.3 Three multicomponent phases.- 7 Heat and Mass Transport.- 7.1 Fluxes.- 7.1.1 Advective flux.- 7.1.2 Dispersive flux.- 7.1.3 Diffusive flux.- 7.2 Balance Equations.- 7.2.1 Single fluid phase.- 7.2.2 Multiple fluid phases.- 7.2.3 Deformable porous medium.- 7.3 Initial and Boundary Conditions.- 7.3.1 Boundary of prescribed temperature.- 7.3.2 Boundary of prescribed flux.- 7.3.3 Boundary between two porous media.- 7.3.4 Boundary with a 'well mixed' domain.- 7.3.5 Boundary with phase change.- 7.4 Complete Mathematical Model.- 7.5 Natural Convection.- 8 Hydraulic Approach to Transport in Aquifers.- 8.1 Essentially Horizontal Flow Approximation.- 8.2 Integration Along Thickness.- 8.3 Conditions on the Top and Bottom Surfaces.- 8.3.1 General flux condition on a boundary.- 8.3.2 Conditions for mass transport of a single fluid phase.- 8.3.3 Conditions for a component of a fluid phase.- 8.3.4 Heat.- 8.3.5 Conditions for stress.- 8.4 Particular Balance Equations for an Aquifer.- 8.4.1 Single fluid phase.- 8.4.2 Component of a phase.- 8.4.3 Fluids separated by an abrupt interface.- 8.5 Aquifer Compaction.- 8.5.1 Integrated flow equation.- 8.5.2 Integrated equilibrium equation.- 8.6 Complete Statement of a Problem of Transport in an Aquifer.- 8.6.1 Mass of a single fluid phase.- 8.6.2 Mass of a component of a fluid phase.- 8.6.3 Saturated-unsaturated mass and component transport.- References.- Problems.

Introduction to modeling of transport phenomena in porous media.

This is the first of two papers presenting a systematic development of a continuum model of a porous medium and of transport processes occurring in it. The concept of a Representative Elementary Volume (REV) as opposed to any arbitrary volume of averaging quantities at the micro-scale, is quantified. A universal criterion for selecting the size of an REV as a function of measurable characteristics of a porous medium and selected tolerance levels of estimation errors, is developed. The rules of spatial averaging are extended by including the effects of both the configuration of the solid matrix and of interphase transfer phenomena within an REV.

Macroscopic Modelling of Transport Phenomena in Porous Media. 1: The Continuum Approach

In this second paper, the averaging rules presented in Part 1 are employed in order to develop a general macroscopic balance equation and particular equations for mass, mass of a component, momentum and energy, all of a phase in a porous medium domain. These balance equations involve averaged fluxes. Then macroscopic equations are developed for advective, dispersive and diffusive fluxes, all in terms of averaged state variables of the system. These are combined with the macroscopic balance equations to yield field equations that serve as the core of the mathematical models that describe the transport of extensive quantities in a porous medium domain.

Macroscopic modelling of transport phenomena in porous media. 2: Applications to mass, momentum and energy transport

The general equations governing the hydrodynamic dispersion of a homogeneous fluid in a homogeneous and isotropic porous medium are described. The flow is saturated and steady, but not necessarily uniform. The equations are first stated in Cartesian coordinates. A general equation in tensorial form is then derived for nonuniform flow in any coordinate system. Finally, the equation is expressed in a simplified form in a curvilinear orthogonal coordinate system of which one family of coordinate curves coincides with the family of streamlines. Some two- and three-dimensional cases serve as illustrations.

The general equations of hydrodynamic dispersion in homogeneous, isotropie, porous mediums

The phenomenon of hydrodynamic dispersion occurs in problems of underground mixing of waters of different quality. In these problems, any identifiable solute may serve as a tracer whose concentration distribution indicates the mixing. A review is given of the microscopic and macroscopic factors of the medium and the liquid, which affect the mixing phenomenon. The paper presents a generalized macroscopic dispersion theory based on the hydrodynamics of the microflow through a porous medium model and on statistical averaging procedures. The macroscopic parameters appearing in the average transport equations and their interrelations are analyzed. The problem of determining the tracer concentration distribution, under field conditions encountered in the practice, is stated mathematically in the form of a set of equations and boundary and initial conditions.

Yehuda Bachmat

Papers

Introduction to modeling of transport phenomena in porous media.

Macroscopic Modelling of Transport Phenomena in Porous Media. 1: The Continuum Approach

Macroscopic modelling of transport phenomena in porous media. 2: Applications to mass, momentum and energy transport

The general equations of hydrodynamic dispersion in homogeneous, isotropie, porous mediums

Generalized theory on hydrodynamic dispersion in porous media