Stability of a moving interface in porous medium for non-newtonian displacing fluids and its applications in oil displacement mechanism

Summary In this paper a theoretical analysis regarding the rheological effects of non-Newtonian behavior of the displacing fluid on the stability of a moving interface in a porous medium. separating two immiscible and incompressible fluids, is performed. Conditions under which a piston-like displacement could be maintained in oil displacement mechanism with a non-Newtonian displacing fluid of power law are shown and discussed, with regard to the possibility of improving oil recovery from polymer flooding projects used in oil reservoir engineering.Nomenclature h layer thickness - H consistency index - k permeability - n rheological parameter for power law fluids - p pressure distribution - V interface velocity - v velocity - porosity - ₀ threshold gradient - viscosity - _ef effective viscosity - _ap apparent viscosity - ₀ yield stress - angle to the upward vertical