How can we model biofilm growth through a porous medium? Can we use biofilm growth for enhanced oil recovery?
By diversion of flow by blocking high perm water zones with biofilm.
We use a network model of single pores. Our total system size is about a milimeter. We use a new model for internal biofilm growth and spreading of biofilm to neighbouring pores.
Then we compute permeability as function of porosity for different physical and numerical parameters.
Upscaling to larger scales is possible if the Damkohler number is below ten - then the biofilm growth is sufficiently homogeneous. In this case permeability is proportional to porosity squared.
For Damkohler above one thousand we observe heterogeneous growth and upscaling is not possible.
