Hydrodynamic models of gas-liquid two-phase flow in porous media

Equations and models describing the hydrodynamic of gas-liquid two-phase flows in porous media have become increasingly necessary in order to predict their main features throughout porous networks. The main subject of this research was to study the influence of capillary, viscous and inertial forces and flow configurations on the hydrodynamic features of a gas-liquid two-phase flow in a glass micromodel. Experimental results were obtained and compared with those predicted by three published models. The Fundamental Forces Balance and the Fluid-Fluid Interface models did not describe accurately experimental behavior even when the first of them considers particular characteristics of flow patterns. Semi-empirical models such as The Relative Permeability can describe physical flow characteristics and can also be modified to include different effects not initially considered. Traditionally, relative permeabilities have been associated almost exclusively with saturation conditions. However, it was concluded in this research that liquid relative permeability is function of saturation conditions but also depends on flow patterns and Capillary number.