The Imaging of Dynamic Multiphase Fluid Flow Using Synchrotron-Based X-ray Microtomography at Reservoir Conditions

• DOI: 10.1007/s11242-015-0553-2
• Publication Date: 2015-08-18T22:20:27Z
• Authors: Matthew Andrew; Hannah Menke; Martin J. Blunt; Branko Bijeljic
• Keywords: Capillary pressure

Fast synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography was used to image the injection of super-critical $$\hbox {CO}_{2}$$ under subsurface conditions into a brine-saturated carbonate sample at pore-scale with voxel size $$3.64\,\upmu \hbox {m}$$ and temporal resolution 45 s. Capillary pressure measured from images by finding curvature terminal menisci both connected disconnected clusters. We provide an analysis three individual dynamic drainage events elevated temperatures pressures on tens seconds timescale, showing non-local interface recession due capillary change, local distal (non-local) snap-off. The change is not sufficient explain snap-off in this system, as has much lower than before after event. Disconnected regions instead preserve extremely low generated during Snap-off these effects only controlled pore topography throat radius, but also fluid arrangement. Whereas configurations produced were rapidly reconnected region, more long-lasting configurations, that forces can have persistent impact pattern sequence events.