Finite element simulation of viscous fingering in miscible displacements at high mobility-ratios

Abstract

Numerical simulations of viscous fingering instabilities in miscible displacements at high mobility-ratios are presented. Anisotropic dispersion and monotonic viscosity profiles are considered. The coupled set of partial differential equations is approximated by the semi-discrete SUPG stabilized finite element formulation plus a discontinuity capturing technique to improve stability around the moving sharp fronts. The pressure equation is discretized by the standard Galerkin method, and a postprocessing scheme is used to improve the numerical evaluation of Darcy's velocity. In the resulting scheme all variables (concentration, pressure and velocity) are approximated by equal order linear triangular elements. A homogeneous channel and a radial system were studied. Complex nonlinear viscous fingering mechanisms for high mobility-ratio miscible displacements were observed. Copyright © 2010 by ABCM.