Modeling Multiscale-Multiphase-Multicomponent Subsurface Reactive Flows using Advanced Computing
EMSL Project ID
25649
Abstract
During the course of the project we will apply PFLOTRAN to uranium migration at the Hanford 300 Area and to CO2 sequestration in subsurface geologic formations. In addition, we will test new innovations to PFLOTRAN including AMR, and incorporating multiscale processes. At the Hanford site the system size is roughly 2 x 1.2 x 0.05 km. The goal will be to capture the observed slow leaching of uranium from the Hanford sediment and model the behavior of the uranium plume over time taking into account variations in the Columbia River stage. Approximately 10 degrees of freedom per node is needed to represent uranium chemisty in a partially saturated environment. PFLOTRAN will be applied to sequestration of CO2 at the SACROC 3D field site using initially a nine million node logically structured grid. Approximately 10 degrees of freedom per node will be used to represent chemical interactions between the formation brine, CO2 plume, and the host rock. Characteristic features of this problem involve fingering driven by buoyancy as CO2 dissolves into the aqueous phase affecting dissipation of the CO2 plume. The width of the fingers can range from sub-meter to tens of meters depending on the Rayleigh number characterizing the formation. We plan to perform four-phase simulations involving oil, liquid and gaseous CO2, and an aqueous phase to investigate leakage of CO2 following injection of supercritical CO2 into a depleted oil reservoir containing abandoned oil wells.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2007-05-22
End Date
2009-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members
Related Publications
Hammond, G.E., P.C. Lichtner, and C. Lu (2007) Subsurface Multiphase Flow and Multicomponent Reactive Transport using High-Performance Computing, SciDAC 2007, Boston MA, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 78, p. 012025.