A network model has been developed to simulate the flow of emulsions and solid particles through porous media. Particle deposition due to direct interception, as well pore plugging by straining are accounted for in the model. The effects of two important factors-the ratio of particle size to pore size, and the fluid velocity-on particle deposition are also investigated. The strength of the model lies in its ability to predict accurately effluent concentration profiles, permeability changes occurring during deep bed filtration, and the evolution of the filter coefficient with time. Model predictions for different particle and pore size distributions of both solid and emulsion particles are in agreement with experimental data. Vol. 34, No. 11 AIChE Journal Particle of Limitina traiectorv Flow in Parabolic velocity profile Figure 2. Particle capture probability is equivalent to fraction of total flow in annulus between R, and R, -@a.

A theoretical and experimental study has been carried out on flow, dissolution, and precipitation in porous media. Flow experiments were performed on linear carbonate cores using acidic ferric chloride solutions. Dissolution of the carbonate by the acid causes an increase in the solution pH, thereby precipitating ferric hydroxide. This precipitate plugs up the pore throats in the medium and increases the resistance to fluid flow. Fluctuations in the permeability ratio were observed during core flood experiments, confirming the competition between channel formation due to dissolution and pore plugging due to precipitation. The evolution of the pore structure was characterized by Wood's metal castings.A network model has also been developed to describe flow and reaction in porous media. The model was used to simulate the ferric chloride system, and pressure oscillations predicted by the model show identical trends to those observed experimentally. Additionally, the evolution of pores in the network were graphically represented.

network model has been developed to study and describe formation damage resulting from particle entrapment in porous media by straining or size exclusion. Unlike the previous network models, this model considers the simultaneous entry ofa number of particles into the network, as well as the effects of fluid flow on the particle transport path. A systematic study has been carried out on the flow and entrapment of monodispersed particles as well as particles with a size distribution through different networks. The effects of various parameters such as network size, particle size distribution and pore size distribution on the extent of formation damage, manifested by permeability reduction have been discussed in this paper. The model has also been used to determine the degree of prefiltration required to prevent damage to injection wells during water flooding. The model predictions show good agreement with experimental data for several different runs. A single parameter is used to match the exact number of pore volumes required to produce damage to the porous media. This parameter was found to be constant for the two different sandstones studied and for different concentrations of particles in the suspension. The simulation was also performed using the "random walk model" (which does not account for the fluid flow effects on particle flow) for purposes of comparison. The permeability responses predicted by this random walk model show trends that are significantly different from those observed experimentally. The network model developed in this paper has wide application in water flooding and matrix acidizing operations where diverting agents are used.

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