What is it about?

In this work, we perform experiments and simulations to analyze the dependency of the pressure-saturation curve (or alternatively, water retention curve) on the sample geometry. We find that for two-dimensional systems, this curve can be reduced to a much simplified form which can be computed analytically, based on the fluids involved and porous medium geometry and connectivity.

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Why is it important?

Pressure-saturation curves are used as closure relations in the integration of the generalized two-phase flow Darcy equations. They are also used as an input to the calculation of relative permeabilities. The currently available models for these curves rely on empirical parameters which, despite serving the purpose of fitting the curve, do yield a better understanding of the underlying physics. With our simplified analytical model, we can address more effectively how this curve depends on the relevant physical parameters.

Perspectives

I think this was an interesting study to perform. There were some challenging parts, from the experimental point of view, like introducing a feedback mechanism to control the imposed pressure and also employing a overflowing system to accurately set this pressure. Since we wanted the system to be driven as slowly as possible, we had to care about things that can usually be safely disregarded, like evaporation of the liquid for instance. This project was a great opportunity to develop new experimental protocols which we can now apply in other projects, so all in all, I believe it was a great opportunity to join this project.

Mr Marcel Moura
Universitetet i Oslo

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Impact of sample geometry on the measurement of pressure‐saturation curves: Experiments and simulations, Water Resources Research, November 2015, American Geophysical Union (AGU),
DOI: 10.1002/2015wr017196.
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