Pore-Scale Modelling and Imaging
Imaging two-phase fluid distributions under different wettability states and measuring the contact angles in situ.
Dynamic imaging and numerical simulation of reactive transport through porous media.
Quantification of connectivity of non-wetting phase ganglia in (quasi) steady-state two-phase flow
Direct simulation of two-phase flow through porous media at at small scales
The Imperial College Consortium on Pore-Scale Modelling and Imaging uses innovative methods to image rock samples at micron resolution, and the fluids within the pore spaces, at reservoir conditions of temperature and pressure. These images are analysed in combination with averaged measurements of pressure differential to obtain both a pore-scale understanding of displacement processes as well as averaged properties, such as relative permeability, curvatures, contact angles, interfacial areas, connectivity and capillary pressure. The second main strand of our research is to develop a suite of modelling tools – including direct simulation and pore network modelling – to interpret and predict our results, and to explore behaviour outside the range of conditions studied experimentally. We study multiphase flow in porous media, the effects of wettability and reactive transport.
- Micro CT images and networks
- Software
- Meetings and presentations
- Reports and proposals
- PhD theses
- Publications
Deliverables
- Access to all software developed.
- Six-monthly project meetings.
- Copies of all preprints and theses.
Current group members
Martin Blunt, Professor of Flow in Porous Media – overall supervision and theories of multiphase flow in porous media.
Branko Bijeljic Principal Research Fellow – multiphase flow and reactive transport.
Sajjad Fouroughi, Post-doctoral researcher – pore-scale modelling.
Yihuai Zhang, Post-doctoral researcher – pore-scale imaging and experiments.
Mohammad Javad Shojaei, Post-doctoral researcher – pore-scale imaging and experiments.
Guanglei Zhang, Post-doctoral researcher – pore-scale imaging and analysis.
Abdulla Alhosani, 3rd year PhD student – imaging of near-miscible three-phase flow.
Ahmed Selem, 3rd year PhD student – low salinity waterflooding.
Luke Giudici, 3rd year PhD student – pore-scale modelling and the effect of wettability.
Sepideh Goodarzi, 1st year PhD student – analysis of hysteresis
Hussein Alzahrani, 1st year PhD student – surfactant flooding
Abdulaziz Alsaleh, 1st year PhD student – simulation of polymer flooding
Funding
Funding from a consortium of companies is requested at a level of £30,000 per year. The Consortium at present has support from the following companies:
