Pore-scale multiphase flow modeling and imaging of CO2 exsolution in Sandstone
Abstract
This study utilizes synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography and pore scale modeling to investigate the process of gas exsolution and how it affects non-wetting phase relative permeability. Exsolved gas distributions are measured on Domengine and Boise sandstone samples using synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography. Observed gas phase distributions are compared to a new model that simulates the growth and distribution of exsolved gas phase at the pore-scale. Water relative permeability curves are calculated using a Stokes flow simulator with modeled and observed gas distributions, under various conditions, such as rock geometry, and pressure depletion rates. By comparing the actual bubble distributions with modeled distributions, we conclude that exsolved gas is more likely to form and accumulate at locations with higher water velocities. This suggests that convective delivery of CO2 to the gas bubble is a primary mechanism for bubble growth, as compared to diffusive transport through the aqueous phase. For carbonated brine flowing up a fault at half a meter per day, with 5% exsolved gas, the water relative permeability is estimated to be 0.6~0.8 for various sandstones. The reduction of water mobility reduces upward brine migration when even a small amount of exsolution occurs.
- Authors:
-
- Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Dept. of Energy Resources Engineering
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Earth Sciences Division
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Nanoscale Control of Geologic CO2 (NCGC)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1476510
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1550685
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 155; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0920-4105
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 58 GEOSCIENCES; CO2 exsolution; Water mobility reduction; Relative permeability; Pore-scale Stokes flow
Citation Formats
Zuo, Lin, Ajo-Franklin, Jonathan B., Voltolini, Marco, Geller, Jil T., and Benson, Sally M. Pore-scale multiphase flow modeling and imaging of CO2 exsolution in Sandstone. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.petrol.2016.10.011.
Zuo, Lin, Ajo-Franklin, Jonathan B., Voltolini, Marco, Geller, Jil T., & Benson, Sally M. Pore-scale multiphase flow modeling and imaging of CO2 exsolution in Sandstone. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2016.10.011
Zuo, Lin, Ajo-Franklin, Jonathan B., Voltolini, Marco, Geller, Jil T., and Benson, Sally M. Wed .
"Pore-scale multiphase flow modeling and imaging of CO2 exsolution in Sandstone". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2016.10.011. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1476510.
@article{osti_1476510,
title = {Pore-scale multiphase flow modeling and imaging of CO2 exsolution in Sandstone},
author = {Zuo, Lin and Ajo-Franklin, Jonathan B. and Voltolini, Marco and Geller, Jil T. and Benson, Sally M.},
abstractNote = {This study utilizes synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography and pore scale modeling to investigate the process of gas exsolution and how it affects non-wetting phase relative permeability. Exsolved gas distributions are measured on Domengine and Boise sandstone samples using synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography. Observed gas phase distributions are compared to a new model that simulates the growth and distribution of exsolved gas phase at the pore-scale. Water relative permeability curves are calculated using a Stokes flow simulator with modeled and observed gas distributions, under various conditions, such as rock geometry, and pressure depletion rates. By comparing the actual bubble distributions with modeled distributions, we conclude that exsolved gas is more likely to form and accumulate at locations with higher water velocities. This suggests that convective delivery of CO2 to the gas bubble is a primary mechanism for bubble growth, as compared to diffusive transport through the aqueous phase. For carbonated brine flowing up a fault at half a meter per day, with 5% exsolved gas, the water relative permeability is estimated to be 0.6~0.8 for various sandstones. The reduction of water mobility reduces upward brine migration when even a small amount of exsolution occurs.},
doi = {10.1016/j.petrol.2016.10.011},
journal = {Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering},
number = C,
volume = 155,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Wed Oct 05 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
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Works referencing / citing this record:
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