Vol. 337 No. 7 (2026)
DOI https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/7/5427
The influence of wettability on oil displacement processes in porous media: a comprehensive approach based on micro-computed tomography data, numerical and hydrodynamic modelling
Wettability is a fundamental parameter governing phase distribution, capillary behaviour and the overall efficiency of waterflooding in hydrocarbon reservoirs. This study presents an integrated multi-scale framework for assessing the impact of wettability on two-phase displacement mechanisms by combining micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), direct numerical simulation (DNS) of immiscible flow within a digital core, and three-dimensional reservoir simulation. At the pore scale, strongly water-wet conditions promote uniform front propagation, reduced residual oil saturation and efficient pore-space drainage, whereas oil-wet systems exhibit pronounced capillary trapping and early-front instabilities. Reservoir-scale simulation demonstrates consistent trends, with displacement efficiencies reaching 0.94 in water-wet rocks and decreasing to 0.51 under oil-wet conditions. The integration of pore- and reservoir-scale results provides a coherent understanding of wettability-controlled displacement dynamics and highlights wettability alteration towards more water-wet states as a significant opportunity for improving ultimate oil recovery and enhancing waterflood performance.
For citation: Lvov I.A., Badlyuk A.A. Wettability impact on oil displacement processes in porous media: a comprehensive approach based on micro-computed tomography data, numerical and hydrodynamic modelling. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Assets Engineering, 2026, vol. 337, no. 7, pp. 173-186. https://doi.org/10.18799/24131830/2026/7/5427
Keywords:
Wettability, Oil Displacement, Micro-Computed Tomography, Direct Numerical Simulation, Hydrodynamic Modelling, Displacement Efficiency, Relative Permeability
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