Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Immiscible-Fluid Displacement in Porous Media

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging is used to study oil and water invasion in a model porous medium. Images taken normal to the flow direction are processed to give both the oil saturation and the fractal character of the oil distribution. These images reveal qualitative differences between the cases of invasion by the wetting (water) and nonwetting (oil) fluids. We have also found large saturation fluctuations in the residual oil state in which the oil consists entirely of disconnected blobs.