Enhanced Oil Recovery (IFT)
Since, surface tension results in a microscopic, localized surface force that exerts itself on oil-brine elements at interfaces in both the normal and tangential directions, would it remain feasible to deduce the oil-brine interfacial motion induced by surface tension @ laboratory-scale (core samples pertaining to an oil reservoir with a significant residual oil saturation at the end of water-flooding), given the fact that the normal stress boundary condition can be satisfied at the interface between oil and brine, only when, they are at rest (surface tension manifests itself in the normal direction as a force that drives fluid surfaces towards a minimal energy state characterized by a configuration of minimum surface area; and that spatial variations in the surface tension coefficient along the interface cause fluid to flow from regions of lower to higher surface tension); while, the tangential stress boundary condition can be satisfied at the interface between oil and brine, only when, they are in motion?
Suresh Kumar Govindarajan
Your question touches on some important and intricate aspects of fluid mechanics and interfacial dynamics in oil-brine systems. To address it:
In conclusion, yes, it is feasible to deduce the oil-brine interfacial motion induced by surface tension at the laboratory scale, but the key challenge lies in accounting for both normal and tangential stresses and understanding the transition between static and dynamic regimes at the interface. Your experimental setup would need to focus on how surface tension varies across the interface and how shear forces act when motion is introduced, which could be achieved with precise measurements and advanced modeling techniques.
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