Multiscale foam dynamics: stability mechanisms in salty solutions

Izawa, Tatsuo (2017) Multiscale foam dynamics: stability mechanisms in salty solutions. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

An oilfield is a region that is generally part of a sedimentary geological formation, made up of porous and permeable rocks, and bounded by impermeable barriers. A fluid is injected to displace the trapped oil. Most fluids are less viscous than the oil, where they are prone to pierce through the porous rock. When pressurized in an attempt to displace the oil, they pierce through the oil in an instability known as viscous fingering. Therefore, identifying appropriate candidate fluids is an essential step in improving oil recovery rate. In this thesis work, an aqueous foam is chosen as a candidate fluid for investigation. A collection of free drainage studies has been conducted to gain deeper understanding of foams’ ageing processes at different temporal and spatial scales. A commercially available nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100, has been used to produce foams. First, container effects are investigated to study how bulk foam dynamics change in differently shaped and sized containers. Second, an optical imaging system is developed to study the multi-scale dynamics of aqueous foam. Finally, using the newly developed optical imaging system, experiments at different salinities are conducted to study the salinity dependence on foam stability at different temporal and spatial scales. This information will likely impact the design of foam stability testing methods and contribute to the understanding of high salinity bubble interactions.

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