Modeling Snap-Off during Gas–Liquid Flow by Using Lattice Boltzmann Method

Understanding the mechanisms of snap-off during gas–liquid immiscible displacement is of great significance in the petroleum industry to enhance oil and gas recovery. In this work, based on the original pseudo-potential lattice Boltzmann method, we improved the fluid–fluid force and fluid–solid force scheme. Additionally, we integrated the Redlich–Kwong equation of state into the lattice Boltzmann model and employed the exact difference method to incorporate external forces within the lattice Boltzmann framework. Based on this model, a pore–throat–pore system was built, enabling gas–liquid to flow through it to investigate the snap-off phenomenon. The results showed the following: (1) The snap-off phenomenon is related to three key factors: the displacement pressure, the pore–throat length ratio, and the pore–throat width ratio. (2) The snap-off phenomenon occurs only when the displacement pressure is within a certain range. When the displacement pressure is larger than the upper limit, the snap-off will be inhibited, and when the pressure is less than the lower limit, the gas–liquid interface cannot overcome the pore–throat and results in a “pinning” effect. (3) The snap-off phenomenon is controlled using the pore–throat structures: e.g., length ratio and the width ratio between pore and throat. It is found that the snap-off phenomenon could easily occur in a “long-narrow” pore–throat system, and yet hardly in a “short-wide” pore–throat system.