Experimental and computational advances on the study of Viscous Fingering: An umbrella review

During the production of heavy oil reservoirs, the movement of the fluids, namely oil and water, significantly affects the production rates. This movement is influenced by the mobility ratio and directly affects variables such as The Water-Oil-Ratio (WOR), production costs, and recovery factor (RF). Moreover, Viscous Fingering, a phenomenon that describes the fluid movement through porous media, has been identified as the root cause of high-water production rates. Studying and comprehending this phenomenon is necessary to understand Oil & Gas companies' challenges nowadays to produce heavy oil. For example, this phenomenon has a direct impact on the assets managed by Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques (EOR) that involves the injection of fluids such as polymer, water, and CO(2) flooding, SAGD, VAPEX, CSP and ECSP, among others. Due to its importance, this paper review and highlights the main computational and experimental studies for over more than 30 years (from the late 1980s) about Viscous Fingering, especially in the oil industry. Also, the need for further studies involving the newest experimental and computational technologies and new novel methodologies for the comprehension of Viscous Fingering is discussed. This review aims to give an overview of the technological developments in the study of Viscous Fingering, not only to understand it but also to illustrate how scientists have been developing new technologies to overcome the consequences caused by this phenomenon.