Analysis of relative permeability hysteresis trends in mixed-wet porous media using network models

The effects upon hysteresis patterns of different imbibition mechanism in the water-wet and oil-wet regions of mixed-wet systems were examined using pore-scale network models. These processes may lie in different Regimes of the wettability Regime diagram. The hysteresis trends were analyzed using oil/water phase occupancy plots which highlights variations in the spanning and flowing oil/water phase clusters during both imbibition and drainage processes. The network models were also used to explain various types of relative permeability hysteresis which were observed in strongly and weakly water-wet systems.