A network model for the biofilm growth in porous media and its effects on permeability and porosity

Lopez Pena, L.A.; Meulenbroek, B.J.; Vermolen, F.J.

doi:10.1007/s00791-019-00316-y

A network model for the biofilm growth in porous media and its effects on permeability and porosity

Title

A network model for the biofilm growth in porous media and its effects on permeability and porosity

Author

Lopez Pena, L.A. (TU Delft Numerical Analysis)
Meulenbroek, B.J. (TU Delft Mathematical Physics)
Vermolen, F.J. (TU Delft Numerical Analysis)

Date

2019

Abstract

Successful microbial enhanced oil recovery depends on several factors like reservoir characteristics and microbial activity. In this work, a pore network is used to study the hydrodynamic evolution over time as a result of the development of a biofilm in the pores. A new microscopic model is proposed for biofilm growth which takes into account that nutrients might not fully penetrate the biofilm. An important novelty in this model is that acknowledges the continuous spreading of the biofilm over the network. The results from the current study can be used to obtain a new relation between the porosity and permeability which might be used as an alternative to the Kozeny Carman relation.

Subject

Bioclogging
Biofilm growth model
Permeability
Pore network
Porosity

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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:e5cda63b-0eb6-45ae-8594-4894d73c25ff

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00791-019-00316-y

ISSN

1432-9360

Source

Computing and Visualization in Science, 21 (1-6), 11-22

Part of collection

Institutional Repository