High-performance displacement by microgel-in-oil suspension in heterogeneous porous media: Microscale visualization and quantification

Wettability effect on displacement in disordered media under preferential flow conditions

“…During multiphase displacement in these engineered porous media, the preferential flow pathway (PFP) will be formed spontaneously due to heterogeneous porous structures or point-to-point injection methods, where invading fluid skirts around the defending phase-bearing matrix region so that these regions are trapped (Lei et al. 2022 b ). Wettability, characterized by the contact angle between the fluid–fluid interface and solid architecture, also has a prominent role in the fluid dynamics and displacement efficiency in porous media.…”

“…The frequent occurrence of this phenomenon has drawn extensive research attention due to its importance in numerous natural and industrial processes, such as microfluidic logic control (Cybulski, Garstecki & Grzybowski 2019), liquid-infused material fabrication (Yasuga et al 2021), biomedical research (Sackmann, Fulton & Beebe 2014), geological CO 2 sequestration (Huppert & Neufeld 2014), enhanced hydrocarbon recovery (Blunt 2017) and remediation of contaminated groundwater sources (Pak et al 2020). During multiphase displacement in these engineered porous media, the preferential flow pathway (PFP) will be formed spontaneously due to heterogeneous porous structures or point-to-point injection methods, where invading fluid skirts around the defending phase-bearing matrix region so that these regions are trapped (Lei et al 2022b). Wettability, characterized by the contact angle between the fluid-fluid interface and solid architecture, also has a prominent role in the fluid dynamics and displacement efficiency in porous media.…”

Criteria of Distribution Transitions in Dispersed Multiphase Systems Based on an Extended Lattice Model

“…Dispersed multiphase systems are mixtures consisting of immiscible phases with at least one component existing as a discrete phase. , These mixtures are ubiquitous in biological systems, energy industries, and medical science. − The distribution of the dispersed components in mixtures, such as blood cells and platelets in human blood, nanoparticles in nanofluids, and nanomicelles in nanoemulsions is influential in the human’s cardiovascular system, oil recovery efficiency, , and dermatological treatment . Among various distributions of dispersed particles, agglomeration, adsorption, and extraction at interfaces of immiscible fluids have garnered increased interest among researchers. − The stability of nanofluids is the crucial premise for its various industrial applications, which depends on the agglomeration propensity of nanoparticles , and could be affected by pH values of base fluids, particle concentration, and particle size .…”

High-Performance Nanogel-in-Oils as Emulsion Evolution Controller for Displacement Enhancement in Porous Media

“…Another approach is to directly dilute the stock suspension in the aqueous phase and release the particles via demulsification. A recent work by Lei et al discovered microgel-in-oils by increasing the oil content in suspension . Most microgel particles were released, while some were trapped in oil and formed aggregates with a cluster size of hundreds of micrometers.…”

“…A recent work by Lei et al discovered microgelin-oils by increasing the oil content in suspension. 33 Most microgel particles were released, while some were trapped in oil and formed aggregates with a cluster size of hundreds of micrometers. Microgel-in-oils were found to moderately plug the high-permeability pathways and be broken as plain microgel particles accumulate.…”