Study of Gas–Liquid Two-Phase Flow Characteristics at the Pore Scale Based on the VOF Model

Shan Yuan (), Lianjin Zhang, Tao Li, Tao Qi and Dong Hui
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Shan Yuan: Research Institute of Exploration and Development, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gas Field Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Lianjin Zhang: Research Institute of Exploration and Development, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gas Field Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Tao Li: Research Institute of Exploration and Development, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gas Field Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Tao Qi: Research Institute of Exploration and Development, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gas Field Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Dong Hui: Research Institute of Exploration and Development, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gas Field Company, Chengdu 610041, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: To study the effects of liquid properties and interface parameters on gas–liquid two-phase flow in porous media. The volume flow model of gas–liquid two-phase flow in porous media was established, and the interface of the two-phase flow was reconstructed by tracing the phase fraction. The microscopic imbibition flow model was established, and the accuracy of the model was verified by comparing the simulation results with the classical capillary imbibition model. The flow characteristics in the fracturing process and backflow process were analyzed. The influence of flow parameters and interface parameters on gas flow was studied using the single-factor variable method. The results show that more than 90% of the flowing channels are invaded by fracturing fluid, and only about 50% of the fluid is displaced in the flowback process. Changes in flow velocity and wetting angle significantly affect Newtonian flow behavior, while variations in surface tension have a pronounced effect on non-Newtonian fluid flow. The relative position of gas breakthrough in porous media is an inherent property of porous media, which does not change with fluid properties and flow parameters.

Keywords: porous media; volume flow model; two-phase flow; non-Newtonian fluid; OpenFOAM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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