Pressure-driven growth with forward and reverse foam flow: Modelling foam flow in geological formations

The pressure-driven growth model is used to investigate the propagation of a foam front in a porous medium. Initially, the foam front moves forward due to an imposed gas injection pressure. Later, however, the injection pressure is reduced so that part of the front, deeper down in the medium, switches to reverse flow. The foam front is not, however, predicted to retrace its original path. Along most of its length moreover, the reverse flow front is predicted to move surprisingly quickly, which also affects the total area swept out. On the other hand, some parts of the front very close to the bottom move only slowly in reverse flow, such that the front is predicted to develop a kinked shape. Perturbations superposed on the front shape can also cause it to develop sharp concave corners. Overall, the findings enhance the understanding of foam behaviour in porous media, when sudden changes in flow direction occur during the course of the flow.