Adaptive mesh refinement in locally conservative level set methods for multiphase fluid displacements in porous media

Abstract Multiphase flow in porous media often occurs with the formation and coalescence of fluid ganglia. Accurate predictions such mechanisms complex pore geometries require simulation models local mass conservation option to improve resolution areas interest. In this work, we incorporate patch-based, structured adaptive mesh refinement capabilities into a method for volume that describes behaviour disconnected ganglia during level set simulations capillary-controlled displacement media. We validate model against analytical solutions three-phase configurations idealized pores containing gas, oil, water, by modelling intermediate-wet oil layers as separate domains their volumes preserved. Both pressures converge values increased levels mesh. Favourable results from strong weak scaling tests emphasize number patches per processor total are important parameters efficient parallel refinement. Simulations two-phase imbibition gas invasion on segmented 3D images water-wet sandstone show has highest impact displacements, especially concerning conserved, phase.