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Pore-scale characterization of residual phase remobilization in geological CO2 storage using X-ray microtomography and pore-network modelling
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Department of Earth Sciences, LUVAL. (Geohydrology)ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1882-4457
Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
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(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

In this study, the pore-scale characteristics of trapped CO2 remobilization under pressure depletion conditions were studied with the use of 3D X-ray microtomography and pore-network modelling. Three-dimensional X-ray microtomographic images of a sandstone sample with a voxel size of 3.83 mm were acquired from which a pore network was extracted. Experimental results show that trapped CO2 remobilization during pressure depletion is an intermittent process in nature, due to which the CO2 relative permeability is significantly reduced. This serves as a safety enhancing feature as it delays CO2 remobilization and migration. Ostwald ripening plays a significant role in the CO2 phase redistribution, which could potentially lead to remobilization even in the absence of pressure depletion. According to the pore network simulation results, weakly wetting conditions enhances the reconnection of the trapped CO2 ganglia, which in turn promotes the remobilization of the trapped phase. The simulation and experimental results agree in terms of the saturation increment needed to remobilize the CO2 – approximately 0.06 – and the pressure at which the CO2 connects – around 7 MPa. The findings of the current study provide valuable insights into the pore-scale aspects of trapped phase remobilization, a phenomenon that affects the fate of CO2 residual trapping in both the short and long term. 

Keywords [en]
Geological CO2 storage, Pore-scale, Residual trapping, Gas remobilization, X-ray microtomography, Pore-network modelling
National Category
Other Earth Sciences Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-486653OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-486653DiVA, id: diva2:1707119
Available from: 2022-10-29 Created: 2022-10-29 Last updated: 2025-02-01
In thesis
1. Residual and critical saturation in geological storage of CO2: results from field studies, pore-network modelling and laboratory experiments
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Residual and critical saturation in geological storage of CO2: results from field studies, pore-network modelling and laboratory experiments
2022 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Geological storage of CO2 in deep saline aquifers is a promising technology in the combat to reduce the atmospheric emissions of CO2. A critical component in this solution is the estimation of aquifer’s in situ capability to store CO2. For this, an in-depth understanding of the underlying processes is required over a wide range of scales, from the pore level where processes occur, to field scale that needs to be controlled and monitored. This Thesis is focused on residual trapping – quantitively characterized by the parameter residual gas saturation (Sgr) – which is one of the key trapping mechanisms. The overall objective is to better understand the relevant in situ phenomena that affect the stability of CO2 residual trapping over a range of scales. Important part of this are the processes controlling the residual gas remobilization that is characterized quantitively by so-called critical gas saturation (Sgc). To this end, first, numerical modelling was implemented at the field-scale to investigate the role of permeability heterogeneity and critical gas saturation in the interpretation of the collected partitioning tracer data from a pilot-scale CO2 injection experiment carried out at Heletz, Israel, 2017. With regards to this experiment, the delayed second arrival peak of the partitioning tracer could not be captured by physical processes included in presently available models, including a stochastic model of within-layer permeability heterogeneity. The results could, however, be explained by accounting for the critical gas saturation that indicates the occurrence of gas-phase remobilization driven by pressure depletion. This is the first ever field observation and demonstration of critical saturation in geological CO2 storage. The relevant fundamental pore-scale characteristics of remobilization are then investigated by means of pore-scale imaging and modeling. The results illustrate that under pressure depletion conditions (which could be caused by e.g., a leaky wellbore or a facture) remobilization of residually trapped CO2 takes place at a higher saturation than residual saturation with the difference depending on various rock and fluid properties. Furthermore, the results provide valuable insights into the pore-scale dynamics of trapped gas remobilization. A very good consistency was found between the pore-scale results and field-scale observations, which provides unique insights into the fate of CO2 residual trapping and remobilization across a wide range of scales.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2022. p. 75
Series
Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology, ISSN 1651-6214 ; 2216
Keywords
Geological CO2 storage, Residual trapping, Gas remobilization, Field experiment, Numerical modelling, Pore-network modelling, Pore-scale imaging
National Category
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-487601 (URN)978-91-513-1656-7 (ISBN)
Public defence
2022-12-16, Hambergsalen, Geocentrum, Villavägen 16, Uppsala, 10:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2022-11-23 Created: 2022-10-29 Last updated: 2022-11-23

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Moghadasi, RaminNiemi, Auli

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