Local effective permeability distributions for non-Newtonian fluids by the lattice Boltzmann equation

Effective permeability of porous media in subsurface environments (or packed beds in reactors, for instance) is subject to potentially large uncertainties due to heterogeneity of natural systems. We present a lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to study the flow of single-phase non-Newtonian fluids by using a power law effective viscosity in different bidimensional porous media; arbitrarily and randomly generated. Macroscale-equivalent local effective permeability distributions and permeability bands at core scale are predicted.Our final goal is to propose a method for constructing core predictions from data obtained in thin samples of porous media, especially for non-Newtonian fluids (contaminated aquifers, petrochemicals and oil, for instance) whenever experiments are costly or just not available.