Interfacial effects in the recovery of residual oil by displacement: Studies at Northwestern University

A static analysis of a single irregular pore partially filled with residual oil was performed. There is a critical value for the pressure drop over this pore below which the residual oil cannot be displaced but instead will assume a static configuration. The pore was idealized by saying that its radius is a sinusoidal function of axial position. It was recognized that the pressure drop across the pore under static conditions is a function of the pore geometry, the volume of the oil segment, the position of the oil segment in the pore, the crude oil--water interfacial tension, the advancing contact angle, and the receding contact angle.