Level set simulation of coupled advection-diffusion and pore structure evolution due to mineral precipitation in porous media

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Water Resources Research

OSTI ID:944206

Li, Xiaoyi; Huang, Hai; Meakin, Paul

The nonlinear coupling of fluid flow, reactive chemical transport and pore structure changes due to mineral precipitation (or dissolution) in porous media play a key role in a wide variety of processes of scientific interest and practical importance. Significant examples include the evolution of fracture apertures in the subsurface, acid fracturing stimulation for enhanced oil recovery and immobilizations of radionuclides and heavy metals in contaminated groundwater. We have developed a pore-scale simulation technique for modeling coupled reactive flow and structure evolution in porous media and fracture apertures. Advection, diffusion, and mineral precipitation resulting in changes in pore geometries are treated simultaneously by solving fully coupled fluid momentum and reactive solute transport equations. In this model, the reaction-induced evolution of solid grain surfaces is captured using a level set method. A sub-grid representation of the interface, based on the level set approach, is used instead of pixel representations of the interface often used in cellular-automata and most lattice-Boltzmann methods. The model is validated against analytical solutions for simplified geometries. Precipitation processes were simulated under various flow conditions and reaction rates, and the resulting pore geometry changes are discussed. Quantitative relationships between permeability and porosity under various flow conditions and reaction rates are reported.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-99ID13727
• OSTI ID: 944206
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-07-13561
• Journal Information: Water Resources Research, Journal Name: Water Resources Research Journal Issue: W12407 Vol. 44; ISSN WRERAQ; ISSN 0043-1397
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ADVECTION
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
APERTURES
DIFFUSION
DISSOLUTION
FLUID FLOW
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
GEOMETRY
HEAVY METALS
PERMEABILITY
PORE STRUCTURE
POROSITY
PRECIPITATION
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTION KINETICS
SOLUTES
TRANSPORT
advection
diffusion
level set method
pore-scale
precipitation