Pore-scale experimental study of multiphase flow relevant to CO2 sequestration and biogeochemical reactive transport relevant to contaminant fate in the subsurface

Pore-scale micromodel experiments are being conducted at EMSL PNNL to gain better understanding of i) fundamental interfacial processes that control multiphase flow relevant to CO2 sequestration, and ii) biogeochemical reactive transport that affect the fate of contaminants in the subsurface. During the main drainage process, unstable capillary and viscous fingering mechanisms were observed in a nearly homogeneous micromodel and a dual-permeability micromodel that affect supercritical CO2 (scCO2, 9 MPa, 41 degree C) displacement of water from the pore space. During primary imbibition, water flooding of a micromodel partially saturated with scCO2 resulted in preferential dissolution of scCO2 (i.e., dissolution fingering). Micromodel experiments were also performed to investigate kinetics of reductive dissolution of hematite coating on grain surfaces when coupled with pore diffusion. Results showed hematite reduction rate in micropores where transport is dominated by diffusion is 1 to 2 orders of magnitude lower than macropores where transport is controlled by advection.