Estimation of the Maximum Migration Distance of a Finite Volume of Light Fluid in a Saturated Porous Medium

Flow of a light fluid through a porous medium saturated with another (heavy) fluid is studied. The one-dimensional formulation of the problem describing two-phase flow in a vertical isolated porous column is considered. Assuming that the volume of light liquid is finite, its maximum upward motion under the action of the buoyancy force is estimated. A simple method for approximate estimate of this migration distance is proposed. It is shown that it is determined by only a single dimensionless number (similarity criterion) over a wide range of fluid and porous medium parameters, and the effect of other parameters is small. The dependence of the maximum migration distance on the distingushed similarity criterion is calculated. The results of study can be useful in estimating the maximum distance over which the injected gas propagates from the well through a water-saturated formation.