Study on the universal scaling behavior of residual gas phases using micro-computed tomography

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The capillary trapping of CO2-gas and its subsequent dissolution are two important storage processes of CCS (Carbon Capture Storage) technology, which will be studied in the framework of the applied project.The central objective is an upscaling of pore-scale properties of trapped gas clusters by universal scaling laws predicted by percolation theory. For the first time, an analytical approximation method is used to calculate the effective dissolution rate and tested by comparative macroscale modeling (MIN3P and TOUGH2). Of fundamental interest is the question under which conditions the porous media studied within the project belong to the same universality class, and what is the influence of pore structure, microstructure of the solid surface and heterogeneous wettability on the trapping process.Methodically, the pore structure and the pore space topology will be analyzed and quantified using micro-computed tomography. Based on cluster analysis the geometry and the static distribution of trapped gas clusters will be studied. The dynamics of the trapping behavior will be investigated by optical visualization experiments within glass sphere monolayers. The fluids are selected so that they are proxies for CO2-injection into deep aquifers.The expected results are both of fundamental interest and of great practical relevance, as they improve predictive modeling for CCS-technology and for groundwater remediation (dissolution of residual NAPL (non aqueous phase liquid) or mixed gas phases).