A dynamic pore-network model for fluid displacements in porous media

Understanding how oil, water and gas flow through porous rocks is of enormous scientific and industrial interest. Using a new insight into the physics of flow through wetting films, this proposal aims to develop the first pore-network model that captures the dynamics of these fluid displacements. Our model is also computationally efficient, enabling the study of large networks derived from high-resolution X-ray scans of actual reservoir rocks. This has the potential to revolutionise core analysis practices in the petroleum industry by allowing predictions of critical multiphase flow properties from rock fragments such as sidewall cores and drill cuttings.