Instability of parallel flow of two immiscible liquids in a pore and application to steam‐assisted gravity drainage

Abstract The instability at the interface between two parallel flows of immiscible liquids through a uniform planar pore is studied by using linear stability analysis. A characteristic equation determines growth rate versus wavenumber, and conditions are determined. governed dimensionless group relating ratio gravity to interfacial tension. Interfacial tension has stabilizing effect resisting destabilizing gravitational force, limiting range wavelengths unstable disturbances be longer than minimum critical wavelength. Application flow steam condensate mobilized bitumen in steam‐assisted drainage process shows that possible only over specific temperatures given densities oil reservoir. This may contribute forming an emulsion which could help support if hosted more mobile water phase.