A model of buoyancy-driven two-phase countercurrent fluid flow

Dmitriy Silin; Tad Patzek; Sally M. Benson

doi:10.1007/s11242-008-9257-1

A model of buoyancy-driven two-phase countercurrent fluid flow

Dmitriy Silin^*, Tad Patzek, Sally M. Benson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

We seek simple analytical solutions in a model of gas flow driven by a combination of buoyancy, viscous, and capillary forces. Traveling-wave solutions describe propagation of the top and bottom of the gas plume. The top of the plume has low gas saturation, but propagates much faster than the bottom. The theoretical maximum of the velocity of propagation of the top of the plume provides a simple conservative estimate of the time until plume evolution will dramatically slow down. A sequence of rarefaction and traveling-wave solutions characterizes the transition zones between the top and bottom stable regions. The analytical results are applied to studying carbon dioxide flow caused by leaks from deep geological formations used for CO₂ storage. The results are also applicable for modeling flow of natural gas leaking from seasonal gas storage, or for modeling of secondary hydrocarbon migration.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	449-469
Number of pages	21
Journal	Transport in Porous Media
Volume	76
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-008-9257-1
State	Published - 2009
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Darcy's law
Gas migration
Multiphase flow
Porous media

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Catalysis
General Chemical Engineering

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10.1007/s11242-008-9257-1

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abstract = "We seek simple analytical solutions in a model of gas flow driven by a combination of buoyancy, viscous, and capillary forces. Traveling-wave solutions describe propagation of the top and bottom of the gas plume. The top of the plume has low gas saturation, but propagates much faster than the bottom. The theoretical maximum of the velocity of propagation of the top of the plume provides a simple conservative estimate of the time until plume evolution will dramatically slow down. A sequence of rarefaction and traveling-wave solutions characterizes the transition zones between the top and bottom stable regions. The analytical results are applied to studying carbon dioxide flow caused by leaks from deep geological formations used for CO2 storage. The results are also applicable for modeling flow of natural gas leaking from seasonal gas storage, or for modeling of secondary hydrocarbon migration.",

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AU - Benson, Sally M.

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AB - We seek simple analytical solutions in a model of gas flow driven by a combination of buoyancy, viscous, and capillary forces. Traveling-wave solutions describe propagation of the top and bottom of the gas plume. The top of the plume has low gas saturation, but propagates much faster than the bottom. The theoretical maximum of the velocity of propagation of the top of the plume provides a simple conservative estimate of the time until plume evolution will dramatically slow down. A sequence of rarefaction and traveling-wave solutions characterizes the transition zones between the top and bottom stable regions. The analytical results are applied to studying carbon dioxide flow caused by leaks from deep geological formations used for CO2 storage. The results are also applicable for modeling flow of natural gas leaking from seasonal gas storage, or for modeling of secondary hydrocarbon migration.

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A model of buoyancy-driven two-phase countercurrent fluid flow

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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