Pore-scale CFD simulations of clay mobilization in natural porous media due to fresh water injection

Bhuvankar, Pramod; Cihan, Abdullah; Birkholzer, Jens

doi:10.1016/j.ces.2021.117046

Pore-scale CFD simulations of clay mobilization in natural porous media due to fresh water injection

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Chemical Engineering Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2021.117046· OSTI ID:1902118

Bhuvankar, Pramod ^[1]; Cihan, Abdullah ^[1]; Birkholzer, Jens ^[1]

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Energy Geosciences Division

The present work investigates mechanisms of permeability impairment as a result of low-salinity fluid injection into brine-saturated porous media containing dispersible clays. Here, we present a computational fluid dynamics model at the pore-scale to simulate detachment, migration and straining of fine particles in porous media. The model uses an immersed boundary method to simulate the motion of clay fines in a fluid. In addition to the hydrodynamic forces, we model the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek forces (DLVO) between clay fines and grains. Our simulations show the impact of the injected fluid's salinity and velocity on the concentration of clay fines retained on the grain surface. We see clay particles dislodging from the grain surface in clusters of up to 12 particles. Our simulation results also demonstrate clogging of narrow pore spaces by the detached particles from the grain surfaces.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231; FE0026140

OSTI ID:: 1902118

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1821494

Journal Information:: Chemical Engineering Science, Journal Name: Chemical Engineering Science Vol. 247; ISSN 0009-2509

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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DLVO forces
Immersed boundary method
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Surface element integration

Pore-scale CFD simulations of clay mobilization in natural porous media due to fresh water injection

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