Performance and Analysis of Three-Phase Capillary Pressure Curves for Drainage and Imbibition in Porous Media

Abstract Three-phase capillary pressure curves measured in both drainage and imbibition on an outcrop water wet sample and on unconsolidated water wat cores, under ambient conditions, are presented. These measurements show that both drainage and imbibition capillary pressures depend on the three saturations. The impact of the spreading coefficient S, measuring the ability for oil to spread on water in presence of gas, on three-phase capillary pressure curves is shown. Its effects on both drainage and imbibition capillary pressure curves are quantified and supported by pore scale experiments performed in glass capillary tubes and in glass network micromodels.