Modeling Subsurface Petroleum Hydrocarbon Transport

The amount of NAPL present in this case is greater than the residual saturation, so connected pathways can form. These contrast with the isolated droplets shown in the previous photographs. Because of the connected pathways, the NAPL can flow.

Likewise there is enough water for connected pathways of water to exist. Since water is present above its residual saturation, it can flow.

Because the fluids keep to their own separate channels, the flow of each fluid may occur through different parts of the pore space.

The color photograph on this page is reprinted with permission from Dense Chlorinated Solvents, Friedrich Schwille, Translated by James F. Pankow, 1988, Copyright CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida c 1988