Reactive Transport Modeling

This study presents a mathematical model to simulate hydrodynamics and fluid-mineral reactions. Fluid convection, diffusion and precipitation / dissolution (PD) reactions inside a finite space are solved. The problem involves mass transfer within the fluid accompanied by chemical reaction at rough surface. As an example, this model shows the time evolution of fracture aperture shrinkage patterns caused by the calcite cementation. We present the aperture width distribution along the fracture. As a second subject, the reactive transport model of CO2 sequestration in aquifers is studied. CO2 can be sequestered by hydrodynamic trapping, solubility trapping and mineral trapping. Mineral trapping is the most stable way of CO2 sequestration in aquifers. Storage capacities of CO2 for each trapping mechanism are presented using a commercial program. We also present the anlaytical solutions for the miscible displacement and compare them with the numerical results. Developing methods for increasing the mineral trapping creates stable repositories of carbon dioxide.

Autorentext

Dr. Myeong Noh is a senior petroleum engineer at Chevron Corporation. He holds a Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include integrated fluid flow in porous media and sequestration of carbon dioxide. He serves as a technical editor for SPE Reservoir Engineering journal.