Stochastic Interpretation of CO2-Brine Primary Displacement in Heterogeneous Carbonate Rocks

Research output: Contribution to conference β€Ί Presentation β€Ί Research β€Ί peer-review

Abstract

CO2 migration is affected by rock heterogeneity but is not reflected in the relative permeability (π‘˜π‘Ÿ(𝑆𝑀)) and capillary pressure (𝑃𝑐(𝑆𝑀)) saturation functions measured by special core analysis (SCAL). We present a first step to an upscaling workflow that combines state-of-the-art SCAL interpretations with continuum-scale experiments on the next larger scale where heterogeneities dictate CO2-brine displacement. By numerical interpretation using 1D homogeneous and 3D heterogeneous simulation domains, we show that an effectively upscaled π‘˜π‘Ÿ(𝑆𝑀) is substantially out of the uncertainty range of classical SCAL measurements used for π‘˜π‘Ÿ(𝑆𝑀) quantification. Alternatively, by including porosity, permeability and capillary heterogeneity, the SCAL-derived relative permeability is well applied. However, this effectively corresponds to downscaling and is therefore of little value for reservoir simulations. Our results demonstrate the following: (a) simple USS experiments can be used to investigate the influence of capillary heterogeneity on π‘˜π‘Ÿ(𝑆𝑀), and (b) a rigorous upscaling procedure including rock heterogeneity on various scales is needed to use standard workflows such as special core analysis for CCS developments in carbonates.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2023
EventInternational Symposium of the Society of Core Analysts - United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi
Duration: 9 Oct 2023 β†’ 12 Oct 2023

Conference

ConferenceInternational Symposium of the Society of Core Analysts
CityAbu Dhabi
Period9/10/23 β†’ 12/10/23