Reactive mineral dissolution in porous media is an omnipresent process in both natural and engineering systems and is central to several practical applications such as carbonated water injection (CWI), carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), acid stimulation in reservoirs, and CO2 based enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Mineral dissolution of these carbonate systems occurs when solid chemicals are transformed into aqueous ions as water flows through the porous matrix, altering the physical and chemical properties. To better maximize the benefits and minimize the drawbacks of reactive mineral dissolution in the aforementioned procedures, a thorough knowledge of the coupled physics underlying the flow and reaction is desired. While extensive previous studies have been devoted to dissolution under single-phase flow conditions, our understanding of the interactions between pore flow and reactive dissolution is still limited. Moreover, to date very few studies have focused on dissolution subject to multiphase flows. To that end, we will experimentally study the mutual interactions between single- (and multi-) phase flows and reactive dissolution using calcite-based porous media. To achieve this goal, we will fabricate calcite-based microfluidic devices, called micromodels, with porous patterns inspired by actual geological structures. The fabrication process involves cutting, grinding, and polishing of thin calcite samples. We will then take advantage of photolithography and wet etching, in the Montana Microfabrication Facility (MMF) to create geological structures in the samples. These micromodels not only structurally and chemically mimic the real reservoir, but also offers excellent optical access to the flow and reactions occurring inside individual pores, which is critical to their characterization. Employing novel techniques such as epi-fluorescent microscopy and particle image velocimetry (PIV), our experiments will provide valuable insight into reactive mineral dissolution in porous media under single and multiphase flow conditions.
Fabrication and Characterization of Calcite-Based Microfluidic Devices for the Study of Reactive Transport in Porous Media
Category
Engineering 2