RT Journal Article ID 7ac6a742742a7666 A1 Wang, Shuoliang A1 Zhao, Hui A1 Yu , Chunlei T1 NUMERICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON FORMATION CONDITIONS OF THE THIEF ZONE BY LEVEL SET METHOD JF Journal of Porous Media JO JPM YR 2019 FD 2019-03-07 VO 22 IS 2 SP 167 OP 181 K1 level set method K1 thief zone K1 oil–water two-phase K1 pore radius K1 formation condition AB The injection water flowing along the thief zone directly affects oil field development efficiency and oil production. The formation condition of the thief zone is an issue worth studying. In this paper, first, the two-phase displacement experimental results are obtained through a one-dimensional microtube experiment and a two-dimensional glass etching plate experiment. Then, based on the experimental device size, a numerical simulation model of the Level set is established. By comparing the calculated results of the Level set method with the laboratory experimental results, it is proved that the Level set calculation method can be used to calculate the free surface tracking problem of oil–water two-phase in porous media. Based on this foundation, a mathematical model of parallel tubes is established using the Level set method. The influence factors of injection water channeling are analyzed in a microcosmic viewpoint. After calculating parallel microtube numerical simulation models, it is found that the greater the displacement pressure, the greater the crude oil viscosity, the bigger the wetting angle, the smaller the interfacial tension, and the easier it is to form the thief zone. In this paper, the authors are first to innovatively present the critical tube diameter ratios in different conditions and the formation conditions of channeling under different pressures, oil–water viscosity ratios, wetting angles, and interfacial tensions in a microcosmic viewpoint. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/49dcde6d4c0809db,57095c7531815957,7ac6a742742a7666.html