Effect of a Periodic Action on Average Flow in an Inhomogeneous Liquid-Saturated Porous Medium

The problem of the average flow of a viscous incompressible fluid saturating a stationary porous incompressible matrix under a periodic action is considered. It is shown that a spatial inhomogeneity of the medium porosity leads to an average fluid flow, quadratically dependent on the action amplitude, in the direction of increase in porosity. In particular, this means that wave action on an oil reservoir could lead to fluid flow on the interfaces from low-porosity, weakly permeable collector regions into high-porosity regions, for example, to flow from blocks to fractures in fractured porous reservoirs, which makes it possible to enhance oil production. It is shown that in the presence of a constant pressure gradient the flow component generated by a periodic action can provide a substantial proportion of the total flow, especially on the boundaries with low-porosity strata or blocks. With increase in amplitude this may significantly exceed the component associated with the constant pressure gradient.