Direct Numerical Simulation of Pore-Scale Trapping Events During Capillary-Dominated Two-Phase Flow in Porous Media

Abstract This study focuses on direct numerical simulation of imbibition, displacement the non-wetting phase by wetting phase, through water-wet carbonate rocks. We simulate multiphase flow in a limestone and compare our results with high-resolution synchrotron X-ray images previously published literature Singh et al. (Sci Rep 7:5192, 2017). use to interpret observed events that cannot be described using conventional metrics such as pore-to-throat aspect ratio. show complex geometry porous media can dictate curvature balance prevents snap-off from happening spite favourable large ratios. also pinned fluid-fluid-solid contact lines lead small ganglia pore walls; we propose this pinning is caused sub-resolution roughness scales less than micron. Our even media, need allow contacts place reproduce experimental results.