Comparison of numerical methods for estimating capillary pressure curves

Tyumen State University Herald. Physical and Mathematical Modeling. Oil, Gas, Energy


Release:

2026. Vol. 12. № 1 (45)

Title: 
Comparison of numerical methods for estimating capillary pressure curves


For citation: Prokhorov, D. I., & Lisitsa, V. V. 2025. Comparison of numerical methods for estimating capillary pressure curves. Tyumen State University Herald. Physical and Mathematical Modeling. Oil, Gas, Energy, 12(1), 100–116. https://doi.org/10.21684/2411-7978-2026-12-1-100-116

About the authors:

Dmitrii I. Prokhorov, Cand. Sc (Phys.-Math.), senior researcher, laboratory of the numerical modeling of natural and anthropogenic processes in multiscale environments, IM SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia; prokhorovdi@ipgg.sbras.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8547-930X, https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/AAL-7472-2021, https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57219226354, https://elibrary.ru/author_profile.asp?authorid=1180104

Vadim V. Lisitsa, Dr. Sci. (Phys.-Math.), head of the laboratory of numerical modeling of multiphysical processes, IM SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia; v.v.lisitsa@math.nsc.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3544-4878, https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/E-9152-2011, https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=16413444600, https://elibrary.ru/author_profile.asp?authorid=127877

Abstract:

The paper presents several approaches to numerical estimation of capillary pressure in three-dimensional porous media. The approaches differ in both filtration modes: dynamic drainage, quasi-static drainage, porous plate method, and capillary pressure calculation methods: differential pressure calculation or capillary pressure calculation at the interface. All the presented methods are based on the two-phase flow model described by the Stokes and the Cahn-Hilliard equations. To verify the methods, a comparison is carried out with analytical expressions for capillary pressure, as well as with laboratory and numerical experiments. The presented methods are used to calculate the capillary pressure in sandstones. A significant discrepancy in the estimates obtained using different methods is shown.

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