Micromodel Pore-Scale Displacement Studies of Brine and Supercritical CO2
EMSL Project ID
39094
Abstract
Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) sequestration in deep saline aquifers or reservoirs is, to a large extent, affected by porous medium properties, fluid properties, and interfacial interactions. Interfacial interactions at fluid-fluid and fluid-mineral interfaces include capillarity, mass transfer, interfacial tension, and wettability. Data related to these interactions are scarce and fundamental knowledge of displacement processes is limited. To improve the understanding of subsurface scCO2 storage, pore-scale experimental and numerical studies of processes related to caprock-sealing efficiency and trapping are needed. The work proposed in this user proposal is part of a funded Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project under the Carbon Sequestration Initiative at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. In the LDRD proposal we would like to complete a series of micromodel experiments at supercritical conditions addressing the following questions:1. What roles do porous medium properties, fluid properties, and wettability (including contact angle hysteresis) play during hydrodynamic (primary) trapping, when scCO2 displaces brine, and during capillary (secondary) trapping, when brine displaces scCO2?
2. What are the effects of fluid-fluid interfacial tension, pore-size geometry, and wettability on caprock-sealing efficiency?
To answer these questions, we will design and construct an unique high-pressure system for micromodel experimentation. The micromodels will be fabricated in a newly developed EMSL laboratory. Methods will be developed to modify micromodel wettability and to improve displacement visualization using solvatochromic dyes.
The funded LDRD project has a duration of three years. It is important to note that this particular EMSL user proposal is only for the remainder of this fiscal year (until September 30, 2010), per EMSL user proposal guidelines. Separate user proposals will be developed later for FY2011 and FY2012.
For FY2010, we propose to conduct pore-scale experimental studies in micromodels investigating fluid displacement involving brine and scCO2 in either fully water- or oil-wet systems. In addition, we would like to develop methods to alter micromodel wettability and methods to use solvatochromic dye to distinguish between immiscible fluids in micromodels. In FY2011 and FY2012 the experimental work will be geared more directly to cap-rock sealing efficiency and storage using heterogeneous micromodels. However, these more detailed studies are not the subject of this particular proposal.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2010-03-05
End Date
2011-03-06
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members
Related Publications
Dehoff KJ, M Oostrom, C Zhang, and JW Grate. 2012. "Evaluation of two-phase relative permeability and capillary pressure relations for unstable displacements in a pore network." Vadose Zone Journal 11(4):, doi:10.2136/vzj2012.0024
Grate JW, C Zhang, TW Wietsma, MG Warner, NC Anheier, Jr, BE Bernacki, G Orr, and M Oostrom. 2010. "A note on the visualization of wetting film structures and a nonwetting immiscible fluid in a pore network micromodel using a solvatochromic dye ." Water Resources Research 46:W11602. doi:10.1029/2010WR009419
Grate JW, MG Warner, JW Pittman, KJ Dehoff, TW Wietsma, C Zhang, and M Oostrom. 2013. "Silane Modification of Glass and Silica Surfaces to Obtain Equally Oil-Wet Surfaces in Glass-Covered Silicon Micromodel Applications." Water Resources Research 49(8):4724-4729. doi:10.1002/wrcr.20367
Wang Y, C Zhang, N Wei, M Oostrom, TW Wietsma, X Li, and AHR Bonneville. 2013. "Experimental study of crossover from capillary to viscous fingering for supercritical CO2 - water displacement in a homogeneous pore network." Environmental Science & Technology 47(1):212-218. doi:10.1021/es3014503
Zhang C, M Oostrom, JW Grate, TW Wietsma, and MG Warner. 2011. "Liquid CO2 Displacement of Water in a Dual-Permeability Pore Network Micromodel." Environmental Science & Technology 45(17):7581-7588. doi:10.1021/es201858r
Zhang C, M Oostrom, TW Wietsma, JW Grate, and MG Warner. 2011. "Influence of Viscous and Capillary Forces on Immiscible Fluid Displacement: Pore-Scale Experimental Study in a Water-Wet Micromodel Demonstrating Viscous and Capillary Fingering." Energy and Fuels 25(8):3493-3505. doi:10.1021/ef101732k