Publication Date:
2014-10-06
Description:
Two-phase fluid flow is strongly controlled by small-scale (sub-core scale) heterogeneity of porous sandstone. We monitor the heterogeneous/anisotropic two-phase flow (CO 2 and water) in porous sandstone and conduct multi-channel V p and V p -anisotropy measurements under super critical CO 2 conditions during CO 2 injection (drainage) and water re-injection (imbibition) processes. In drainage, V p 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 V p reduction reflects the CO 2 movement in the specimen. The V p -anisotropy of the upper two planes indicates clear increase. The results of this experiment indicate the heterogeneous CO 2 -flow around laminae in porous sandstone and characteristic behavior of these laminae as a barrier for CO 2 . On the other hand, flow of water is not affected by this barrier. This characteristic CO 2 -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 2 -gate and strongly controls CO 2 behavior in porous sandstone.
Print ISSN:
0148-0227
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
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