The study of heterogeneous two‐phase flow around small‐scale heterogeneity in porous sandstone by measured elastic wave velocities and lattice Boltzmann method simulation. Issue 10 (27th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kitamura, Keigo; Jiang, Fei; Valocchi, Albert J.; Chiyonobu, Shun; Tsuji, Takeshi; Christensen, Kenneth T.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 119:Issue 10(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 7564
• Page End: 7577
• Publication Date: 2014-10-27
• Subjects: Geomagnetism -- Periodicals; Geochemistry -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; 551.1
• DOI: 10.1002/2014JB011281
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9313

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Two‐phase fluid flow is strongly controlled by small‐scale (subcore‐scale) heterogeneity of porous sandstone. We monitor the heterogeneous/anisotropic two‐phase flow (CO<sub>2</sub> and water) in porous sandstone and conduct multichannel <italic>V<sub>P</sub></italic> and <italic>V<sub>P</sub></italic> anisotropy measurements under super critical CO<sub>2</sub> conditions during CO<sub>2</sub> injection (drainage) and water reinjection (imbibition) processes. In drainage, <italic>V<sub>P</sub></italic> shows large reduction (~10%) in all sections of the core sample and changes from the bottom inlet side to upper outlet side. It is considered that <italic>V<sub>P</sub></italic> reduction reflects the CO<sub>2</sub> movement in the specimen. The <italic>V<sub>P</sub></italic> anisotropy of the upper two planes indicates clear increase. The results of this experiment indicate the heterogeneous CO<sub>2</sub> flow around laminae in porous sandstone and characteristic behavior of these laminae as a barrier for CO<sub>2</sub>. On the other hand, flow of water is not affected by this barrier. This characteristic CO<sub>2</sub> water flow around laminae is observed in the numerical simulation results. This simulation study also indicates that the capillary number is not directly affected on two‐phase fluid flow around small‐scale heterogeneity in porous sandstone. These results suggest that the small‐scale heterogeneity behaves as a CO<sub>2</sub> gate and strongly controls CO<sub>2</sub> behavior in porous sandstone.</p> </abstract>