Evaluation of regular-based pore networks for simulation of Newtonian two phase flow

To achieve this aim, a simple regular cubic network was distorted by removing some of the throats randomly. The descriptive parameters of the network were tuned to match the macroscopic properties of the real porous medium. It was then used for simulation of primary drainage and the imbibition process using a quasi-static method. The tuning and validation processes were repeated for water-wet Bentheimer and Berea sandstones and a sample of carbonate rock. This study showed that if advanced equations and concepts (e.g. the shape factor and wetting layers) are used in calculations, the results of using a simple network can be adequately representative of the complexities of a real rock structure. Although the network obtained by tuning is not unique, however, these regular-based networks can be used for sensitivity analysis of pore-scale mechanism, with acceptable results, when a CT image or cross-section image of the rock is not available.