Pore-Scale Simulation of Interphase Multicomponent Mass Transfer Using a Non-Newtonian Model

Abstract

This study investigates multiphase flow with non-Newtonian fluid at pore scale, using the Compressive Continuum Species Transfer (C-CST) method in a microchannel and 2D porous media, with emphasis on drainage and mass transfer between fluids through the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method. The object of study is the multiphase flow in oil reservoirs, where immiscible fluids coexist in the porous media. The use of recovery methods becomes relevant in scenarios of low reservoir energy or when the physical properties of the oil compromise the flow. The influence of petroleum rheology, especially heavy crude oil with non-Newtonian viscoelastic behaviour, is considered. Recovery methods, such as the injection of CO₂, aim to optimize the flow by modifying the rheological properties of the fluid. This article aims to conduct a numerical analysis using the C-CST method with Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) and volume tracking techniques to capture an interface between fluids. The main objective is to numerically implement a non-Newtonian rheological model in the linear momentum conservation equation, comparing the flow between non-Newtonian and Newtonian fluids at pore scale, and analysing the mass transfer at the flow interface with this new approach.