A SIMPLIFIED OXIDATION MODEL FOR TWO-PHASE FLOW IN POROUS MEDIA

This paper describes a simplified mathematical model for thermal recovery by oxidation for flow of oxygen and oil in porous media. Some neglected important physical effects include gravity, compressibility and heat loss to the rock formation, but heat longitudinal conduction and capillary pressure difference between the phases are considered. The mathematical model is obtained from the mass balance equations for air and oil, energy balance and Darcy's law applied to each phase. Based on this model some typical features in low temperature oxidation concerning the wave structure are captured. Numerical simulations showing saturations and temperature profiles are reported.