Influence of Dead-End Pores on Relative Permeability of Porous Media

Abstract

The network model is used to show that wetting phase relative permeability of porous media is only slightly influenced by the fraction of that phase trapped in dead-end pores. On the other hand, the trapping of nonwetting phase in dead-end pores is a major influence on the shape of the nonwetting phase relative permeability curve. Laboratory experiments on porous media are suggested to test these network model predictions.