The FluidFlower Validation Benchmark Study for the Storage of CO$$_2$$

Understanding porous media flow is inherently a multi-scale challenge, where at the core lies the aggregation of pore-level processes to a continuum, or Darcy-scale, description. This challenge is directly mirrored in image processing, where pore-scale grains and interfaces may be clearly visible in the image, yet continuous Darcy-scale parameters may be what are desirable to quantify. Classical image processing is poorly adapted to this setting, as most techniques do not explicitly utilize the fact that the image contains explicit physical processes. Here, we extend classical image processing concepts to what we define as “physical images” of porous materials and processes within them. This is realized through the development of a new open-source image analysis toolbox specifically adapted to time-series of images of porous materials.

Section: Conclusion and Future Developments Of Darsiamentioning

confidence: 99%

DarSIA: An Open-Source Python Toolbox for Two-Scale Image Processing of Dynamics in Porous Media

Nordbotten,

Benali,

Both

et al. 2023

Room-Scale CO2 Injections in a Physical Reservoir Model with Faults

Fernø,

Haugen,

Eikehaug

et al. 2023

We perform a series of repeated CO2 injections in a room-scale physical model of a faulted geological cross-section. Relevant parameters for subsurface carbon storage, including multiphase flows, capillary CO2 trapping, dissolution and convective mixing, are studied and quantified. As part of a validation benchmark study, we address and quantify six predefined metrics for storage capacity and security in typical CO2 storage operations. Using the same geometry, we investigate the degree of reproducibility of five repeated experimental runs. Our analysis focuses on physical variations of the spatial distribution of mobile and dissolved CO2, multiphase flow patterns, development in mass of the aqueous and gaseous phases, gravitational fingers and leakage dynamics. We observe very good reproducibility in homogenous regions with up to 97% overlap between repeated runs, and that fault-related heterogeneity tends to decrease reproducibility. Notably, we observe an oscillating CO2 leakage behavior from the spill point of an anticline and discuss the observed phenomenon within the constraints of the studied system.

Engineering Meter-scale Porous Media Flow Experiments for Quantitative Studies of Geological Carbon Sequestration

Eikehaug,

Haugen,

Folkvord

et al. 2024

This technical note describes the FluidFlower concept, a new laboratory infrastructure for geological carbon storage research. The highly controlled and adjustable system produces a strikingly visual physical ground truth of studied processes for model validation, comparison and forecasting, including detailed physical studies of the behavior and storage mechanisms of carbon dioxide and its derivative forms in relevant geological settings for subsurface carbon storage. The design, instrumentation, structural aspects and methodology are described. Furthermore, we share engineering insights into construction, operation, fluid considerations and fluid resetting in the porous media. The new infrastructure enables researchers to study variability between repeated CO2 injections, making the FluidFlower concept a suitable tool for sensitivity studies on a range of determining carbon storage parameters in varying geological formations.