Mechanism for viscoelastic polymer solution percolating through porous media*

The pore throat of porous media is modeled as a constricted channel or expanded channel. The flow of viscoelastic polymer solution in pore throat model is studied by numerical method. Relationship between pressure drop and flow rate is developed, viscoelasticity and throat size are found to be two main factors in high flow resistance. According to pore throat model, 2-D stochastic channel bundle is put forward to model porous media, which is composed of pore throat models in series - parallel connection with size and length accord to Haring - Greenkorn stochastic distribution. Percolation model of viscoelastic fluid is developed on the basis of Darcy equation and pressure drop vs. flow rate relation in 2-D stochastic channel bundle. Results indicate that the seepage ability of viscoelastic polymer solution decreases with the increase of viscoelasticity, injection rate, and heterogeneity as well as the decrease of mean pore size of porous media. The high pressure drop of viscoelastic fluid at the connection of pore to throat plays a great role in its anomalous high flow resistance through porous media.