Surfactant-induced changes in gravity fingering of water through a light oil

Gravity-driven preferential flow (fingering) can greatly affect how one fluid displaces another in the subsurface. We have studied the internal properties of these preferential flow paths for water, with and without surfactants, infiltrating into oil saturated porous media using synchrotron X-rays,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of contaminant hydrology 2000-02, Vol.41 (3), p.317-334
Main Authors: DiCarlo, David A, Bauters, Tim W.J, Darnault, Christophe J.G, Wong, Eva, Bierck, Barnes R, Steenhuis, Tammo S, Parlange, J.-Yves
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Constitutive relationship
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Exact sciences and technology
groundwater contamination
Hydrogeology
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
Interfacial tension
Pollution, environment geology
Preferential flow
surfactants
Tomograpy
transport processes
Two-phase flow
X-rays
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Summary:Gravity-driven preferential flow (fingering) can greatly affect how one fluid displaces another in the subsurface. We have studied the internal properties of these preferential flow paths for water, with and without surfactants, infiltrating into oil saturated porous media using synchrotron X-rays, and miniature tensiometers to characterize fluid content and pressure relationships. We also used a light transmission technique to visualize overall flow pattern. Capillary pressure and water content decrease behind the front, similar to fingers in air-dry sand, with quantitative differences for five different surfactants with surface tensions ranging from 4–21 g/s 2. Using unstable flow theory, the finger widths, capillary pressure drops within the fingers, finger tip lengths, and finger splitting dynamics were scaled successfully with interfacial tension, fluid density, and the contact angle using the fingers in air–water systems as the reference.
ISSN:0169-7722
1873-6009
DOI:10.1016/S0169-7722(99)00078-9