The evolution of invasion patterns due to surfactant adsorption in anomalous pore distribution: Role of Mass Transfer and Laplace Pressure

TL;DR

This paper develops a pore network model to study how surfactant adsorption influences invasion patterns in porous media, highlighting the roles of mass transfer and Laplace pressure in complex invasion dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel time-dependent pore network model incorporating surfactant adsorption and two strategies to quantify invasion pattern evolution, advancing understanding of pore-scale mechanisms.

Findings

Anomalous pore distributions accelerate secondary invasions.

Laplace pressure dominates in highly anomalous pore networks.

Mass transfer effects are more significant in less anomalous distributions.

Abstract

Here, we develop a time-dependent pore network model (PNM) to simulate the effects of surfactant-induced IFT reduction on immiscible displacement driven by constant inlet pressure, with pressure drops across the network calculated using a random resistor network and mass conservation equations. Node-specific flux and velocity are derived using the Hagen-Poiseuille equation, and surfactant adsorption is modeled using the Langmuir isotherm, capturing its impact on fluid-fluid and solid-fluid interfaces within the invaded path. Since the evolution of the invasion pattern comprises the cooperative mechanisms of surfactant mass transfer to the interfaces and the resulting changes in capillary and Laplace pressures, we employ two strategies to quantify this complex feedback behavior: mass transfer-based, introducing a mass transfer timescale, and Laplace pressure-based, scaling with the inlet pressure. Results reveal that an anomalous or heavy-tailed pore throat distribution accelerates the onset of secondary invasions, which enhances the dominance of Laplace pressure. As the distribution becomes less anomalous or more symmetric, mass transfer becomes the dominant mechanism. This interplay highlights the intricate balance between mass transfer and capillary effects in governing the spatio-temporal evolution of immiscible fluid invasion.