Modelling of kinetic interface sensitive tracers reactive transport in 2D two-phase flow heterogeneous porous media

Abstract

Fluid-fluid interfacial area plays an important role for mass- and energy-transfer processes across the interface which is relevant in several hydrogeological and engineering applications, e.g. enhanced oil-gas recovery, CO2 storage in geological formations, unconventional geothermal systems, contaminant removal, etc. Kinetic interface sensitive tracers were designed to determine the size of the interface between two fluids by undergoing hydrolysis at the fluid-fluid interface. This study investigates by means of numerical modelling the influence of heterogeneity on the KIS tracer breakthrough curves in six idealized scenarios (S1-S6). It is an extension of the previous work conducted in “one-dimensional” column experiments by Tatomir et al. (2018) [1]. The changes in interfacial area are created by inclusion of heterogeneities at the Darcy-scale. The results show that KIS tracers can be used in two-dimensional experimental setup and can provide information about the size and dynamic evolution of interfacial area. Therefore, this is a first step for the dimensioning of an experimental flume.

Re-Thinking Ecological Flow in Romania: A Sustainable Approach to Water Management for a Healthier Environment

“…Based on these data, limnimetric keys were determined and later calibrated following hydrometric measurement campaigns. The 2D modeling results, i.e., the water flow depths and velocities for each flow threshold value, were correlated with habitat suitability criteria [43].…”

A Two‐Phase, Pore‐Scale Reactive Transport Model for the Kinetic Interface‐Sensitive Tracer

“…At the column outlet measurements of fluid volume and 2-NSA concentration of the samples collected at defined time intervals provided breakthrough curves (BTCs) of fluid volumes and the 2-NSA concentration in the water phase. The analysis of the experimental data was conducted employing a macro-scale, reactive, two-phase flow and transport model (Tatomir et al, 2015(Tatomir et al, , 2018(Tatomir et al, , 2019(Tatomir et al, , 2020Tatomir, Jyoti, et al, 2016), with the interfacial reaction of the tracer being specified in the zones with both fluids co-existing, and the FIFA approximated explicitly as a function of saturation. The model predicted a nearly linear concentration BTC which could fit most of the experimental data points.…”