Scale-dependent dynamics of CO2–brine interfaces in mixed-wetting porous media: From sub-grain to grain levels

Yanran Chang; Ruirui Xue; Sijia Wang; Li Sun; Pengfei Lv; Lanlan Jiang; Hantao Liu; Yongchen Song

doi:10.1063/5.0267616

journal article Jun 01, 2025

Scale-dependent dynamics of CO2–brine interfaces in mixed-wetting porous media: From sub-grain to grain levels

Yanran Chang Ruirui Xue Sijia Wang

Physics of Fluids Vol. 37 No. 6 · AIP Publishing

View at Publisher Save 10.1063/5.0267616

Abstract

The mixed wettability characteristics of porous media significantly influence CO2-brine two-phase transport processes. This multi-scale wettability heterogeneity manifests not only across core-to-field scales but also occurs at sub-grain to grain scales due to variations in mineral composition, surface roughness, and pore structure of rock surfaces. This study uses finite element numerical simulations to investigate the mechanisms governing mixed wettability effects on fluid migration at both sub-grain and grain scales. Through two-dimensional pore-scale porous media modeling, we simulate brine displacement of CO2 under four distinct wettability distribution patterns and conduct parametric studies across varying capillary numbers. The research findings demonstrate that at the grain scale, brine flow pathways preferentially propagate through regions with stronger wettability clustering. Under sub-grain-scale mixed wettability conditions, quadruple-directional interfacial propagation occurs, achieving brine saturations of 78.2% and 87.6% under capillary numbers of 10−5 and 10−4, respectively. These results nearly exceed all grain-scale wettability scenarios. At lower capillary numbers, pore filling is primarily characterized by burst and overlap events, while at higher capillary numbers, touch and overlap events dominate. Burst events exhibit a nearly 15-fold acceleration in velocity accompanied by significant pressure gradients spanning over seven pores. At the grain scale, CO2 is trapped in three distinct forms: singlet, ganglia, and clusters, with the spatial distribution of wettability governing the trapped area. Under random-order conditions, CO2 clusters exceeding 4 mm2 are captured. In contrast, at the sub-grain scale, adhesion-dominated trapping mechanisms prevail, resulting in a captured area that remains below 0.3 mm2.

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Details

Published: Jun 01, 2025
Vol/Issue: 37(6)

Authors

Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanocomposites and Applications Institute of Nano‐Structured Functional Materials Huanghe Science and Technology College Zhengzhou 450006 China

S

Sijia Wang

College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China; Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Rehabilitation Building 32-21, 1000 Veteran Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA

L

Li Sun

Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.

P

Pengfei Lv

Department of Pharmacy, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China

School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, U.K.

Y

Yongchen Song

Key Laboratory of Ocean Energy Utilization and Energy Conservation of Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China Award: 52106213

Shanxi Scholarship Council of China Award: 2024-115

Key Talent Team for Science and Technology Innovation in Shanxi Province Award: 202204051002023

Cite This Article

Yanran Chang, Ruirui Xue, Sijia Wang, et al. (2025). Scale-dependent dynamics of CO2–brine interfaces in mixed-wetting porous media: From sub-grain to grain levels. Physics of Fluids, 37(6). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0267616

Scale-dependent dynamics of CO2–brine interfaces in mixed-wetting porous media: From sub-grain to grain levels

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