Simulation of CO₂–water two-phase fluid displacement characteristics based on the phase field method

Abstract

The two-phase flow in porous media is affected by multiple factors. In the present study, a two-dimensional numerical model of porous media was developed using the actual pore structure of the core sample. The phase field method was utilized to simulate the impact of displacement velocity, the water–gas viscosity ratio, and the density ratio on the flow behavior of two-phase fluids in porous media. The effectiveness of displacement was evaluated by analyzing CO₂ saturation levels. The results indicate that the saturation of CO₂ in porous media increased as the displacement velocity increased. When the displacement velocity exceeded 0.01 m/s, there was a corresponding increase in CO₂ saturation. Conversely, when the displacement velocity was below this threshold, the impact on CO₂ saturation was minimal. An “inflection point,” M3, was present in the viscosity ratio. When the viscosity of CO₂ is less than 8.937 × 10⁻⁵Pa·s (viscosity ratio below M3), variations in the viscosity of CO₂ had little impact on its saturation. Conversely, when the viscosity of CO₂ exceeded 8.937 × 10⁻⁵Pa·s (viscosity ratio greater than M3), saturation increased with an increase in the viscosity ratio. In terms of the density ratio, the saturation of CO₂ increased monotonically with an increase in the density ratio. Similarly, increasing density ratios resulted in a monotonic increase in CO₂ saturation, though this trend was less pronounced in numerical simulations. Analysis results of displacement within dead-end pores using pressure and velocity diagrams reveal eddy currents as contributing factors. Finally, the impact of pore throat structure on the formation of dominant channels was examined.

Keywords

CO₂ geological storage / displacement efficiency enhancement / phase field method / real core / two-phase flow

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2025 The Author(s). Deep Underground Science and Engineering published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of China University of Mining and Technology.