The impact of small-scale rock heterogeneity on multi-phase flow in porous reservoirs

Large scale subsurface gas storage in porous reservoirs can play an important role in the energy transition. Geological storage of carbon dioxide will mitigate CO₂ emissions while underground energy storage, for example in the form of hydrogen gas, can be used to balance out the renewable energy production and demand.

To investigate the feasibility of large scale subsurface gas storage in porous reservoirs, simulation models are needed that accurately capture the multi-phase flow behaviour in heterogeneous porous rock. Rock structure heterogeneity exists at many length scales, all having their own  impact on the overall observed multi-phase flow behaviour. The primary objective of this study is to characterize the impact of sub-grid scale (μm-m) rock structure heterogeneities on multi-phase flow and to find ways to correctly incorporate this impact in larger scale models. The proposed project will involve the following tasks:

• Construction of 2D/3D model representations of the most commonly found μm to m scale heterogeneity structures in porous reservoirs.
• Experimentally investigate the impact of these heterogeneity structures on multi-phase flow processes at the pore and REV scale under the influence of different driving forces using 2D microfluidic and 3D core-flood experiments.
• Combine these experimental observations with analytical and numerical modelling tools to develop new approaches to incorporate the impact of these sub grid scale heterogeneities in larger scale systems.