The relative permeability of a variable-aperture fracture under satiated conditions (wetting phase spans the fracture, non-wetting phase is completely entrapped) is controlled by the distribution of the entrapped phase within the fracture plane. We use simulations to investigate the combined influence of capillary forces and aperture variability on satiated relative permeability and demonstrate the effectiveness of a dimensionless perturbation curvature number (C') for predicting entrapped-phase structure. C' combines the relative influence of in-plane and out-of-plane interface curvature and the aperture coefficient of variation ({sigma}{sub a}/<a>) on local capillary forces. Results suggest that C' provides a single parameter that can be …
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The relative permeability of a variable-aperture fracture under satiated conditions (wetting phase spans the fracture, non-wetting phase is completely entrapped) is controlled by the distribution of the entrapped phase within the fracture plane. We use simulations to investigate the combined influence of capillary forces and aperture variability on satiated relative permeability and demonstrate the effectiveness of a dimensionless perturbation curvature number (C') for predicting entrapped-phase structure. C' combines the relative influence of in-plane and out-of-plane interface curvature and the aperture coefficient of variation ({sigma}{sub a}/<a>) on local capillary forces. Results suggest that C' provides a single parameter that can be used to estimate satiated relative permeability.
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Detwiler, R. L.; Glass, R. J.; Rajaram, H. & Nicholl, M. J.Satiated Relative Permeability of Variable-Aperture Fractures,
article,
December 11, 2001;
California.
(https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1412683/:
accessed July 17, 2024),
University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu;
crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.