Numerical Simulation of Three Phase Displacement Characteristics of Foam Fluid In Homogeneous Porous Media

Abstract

Foam technology has found wide applications in enhanced oil recovery and greenhouse geological storage. In this paper, a numerical simulate is carried out with the stochastic bubble population balance model on the foam three phase displacement process in a homogeneous oil/water/gas coexistence porous media of liquid. The effects of the maximum equilibrium bubble density n_max and the foam generation rate Kg on foam displacement process is mainly discussed. Numerical results indicate that the oil phase can be displaced well by foam fluid. Larger n_max values lead to higher apparent viscosity of foam and higher the pressure difference, and with the increase of Kg, the number of foam can reach a balance in a short distance, so it has better displacement effect on the oil phase components. The results obtained in this paper have a certain guiding role in understanding the enhanced oil recovery mechanism of foam fluid.