Self-similar solutions for displacement of non-Newtonian fluids through porous media

This paper presents a class of self-similar solutions describing piston-like displacement (single-phase flow is included as a special case) of one slightly compressible non-Newtonian, power-law, dilatant fluid by another through a homogeneous, isotropic porous medium. These solutions can be used to evaluate the validity and accuracy of existing approximate solutions, such as the assumption of constant flow rate at each radial distance that Ikoku and Ramey use to linearize the partial differential equation for the flow of non-Newtonian, power-law fluid through a porous medium.Nomenclature a parameter, defined by (A8) - A cross-section area of linear reservoir - B constant - c fluid compressibility - c_f formation compressibility - c_t system compressibility - ct dimensionless system compressibility, defined by (24) - C constant of integration - D_I dimensionless coefficient, directly proportional to injection rate, for linear displacement case, defined by (22). - D₂ dimensionless coefficient, directly proportional to injection rate, for radial displacement case, defined by (55) - erf(x) error function - ercf(x) complementary error function - Ei(x) exponential integral - f dimensionless pressure, defined by (10) - h formation thickness - k permeability - l linear location of moving boundary between the displacing and displaced fluids - n flow behavior parameter - p pressure - p_i injection pressure - p₀ initial pressure; reference pressure - p₀ dimensionless initial pressure, defined by (19) - q injection rate - r radial distance - R radial location of moving boundary between the displacing and displaced fluids - t time - u superficial velocity - U substitution of variable - x linear distance - _e effective viscosity - _e dimensionless effective viscosity, defined by (24) - dimensionless variable, defined by (9) or (45) - _i0 value of corresponding to the location of the moving boundary between the displacing and displaced fluids - density - ₀ value of density at reference pressure - porosity - ₀ value of porosity at reference pressure - 1 displacing fluid - 2 displaced fluid