Analytical corrections to CO2-brine Core Relative permeability for low rate flow modeling

Avinoam Rabinovich*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Relative permeability of CO2 and brine is one of the fundamental parameters controlling flow related to carbon storage in saline aquifers. Core samples recovered from subsurface formations are characterized in laboratory experiments to determine effective core relative permeability curves. Typically, coreflooding experiments are conducted at high injection rates so that the resulting flow is viscous dominated. However, at lower rates, it has been shown that the effective curves may change as capillary heterogeneity effects become significant. Using relative permeability determined by conventional coreflooding in simulations with low flow rates, e.g., to model CO2 migration in aquifers, may incur significant error. A new method for calculating low flow rate relative permeability curves is presented. The method is based on approximate analytical solutions for effective relative permeability under steady state and capillary limit flow conditions. Derivation is carried out using power law averaging, assuming log normally distributed core permeability. We validate the analytical solution by comparison to numerical solutions for a wide range of cases. An additional correction for the CO2 curves is shown to be necessary and derived by matching analytical and numerical results. Given a core which has been characterized by conventional high rate coreflooding experiments, the current method gives a fast and efficient correction for low flow rate applications. It circumvents the need for additional experiments or computationally expensive coreflooding simulations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCarbon Management Technology Conference, CMTC 2017
Subtitle of host publicationGlobal CCUS Innovation Nexus
PublisherAIChE
Pages410-429
Number of pages20
ISBN (Electronic)9781510848153
StatePublished - 2017
EventCarbon Management Technology Conference: Global CCUS Innovation Nexus, CMTC 2017 - Houston, United States
Duration: 17 Jul 201720 Jul 2017

Publication series

NameCarbon Management Technology Conference, CMTC 2017: Global CCUS Innovation Nexus
Volume1

Conference

ConferenceCarbon Management Technology Conference: Global CCUS Innovation Nexus, CMTC 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHouston
Period17/07/1720/07/17

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