Experimental Study: The Effect of Pore Shape, Geometrical Heterogeneity, and Flow Rate on the Repetitive Two-Phase Fluid Transport in Microfluidic Porous Media

Geologic subsurface energy storage, such as porous-media compressed-air energy storage (PM-CAES) and underground hydrogen storage (UHS), involves the multi-phase fluid transport in structurally disordered or heterogeneous porous media (e.g., soils and rocks). Furthermore, such multi-phase fluid transport is likely to repeatedly occur due to successive fluid injections and extractions, thus, resulting in cyclic drainage-imbibition processes. To complement our preceding study, we conducted a follow-up study with microfluidic pore-network devices with a square solid shape (Type II) to further advance our understanding on the effect of the pore shape (aspect ratio, Type I: 5-6 > Type II: similar to 1), pore-space heterogeneity (coefficient of variation, COV = 0, 0.25, and 0.5), and flow rates (Q = 0.01 and 0.1 mL/min) on the repetitive two-phase fluid flow in general porous media. The influence of pore shape and pore-space heterogeneity were observed to be more prominent when the flow rate was low (e.g., Q = 0.01 mL/min in this study) on the examined outcomes, including the drainage and imbibition patterns, the similarity of those patterns between repeated steps, the sweep efficiency and residual saturation of the nonwetting fluid, and fluid pressure. On the other hand, a higher flow rate (e.g., Q = 0.1 mL/min in this study) appeared to outweigh those factors for the Type II structure, owing to the low aspect ratio (similar to 1). It was also suggested that the flow morphology, sweep efficiency, residual saturation, and required pressure gradient may not severely fluctuate during the repeated drainage-imbibition processes; instead, becoming stabilized after 4-5 cycles, regardless of the aspect ratio, COV, and Q. Implications of the study results for PM-CAES and UHS are discussed as a complementary analysis at the end of this manuscript.

Automated summary

This study used microfluidic pore-network devices to investigate the impact of pore shape, pore-space heterogeneity, and flow rates on repetitive two-phase fluid flow in porous media. The results showed that pore shape and pore-space heterogeneity had a more prominent effect at low flow rates, while higher flow rates outweighed these factors for certain structures. Additionally, the study found that the flow morphology and required pressure gradient may stabilize after 4-5 cycles, regardless of pore shape, heterogeneity, and flow rates.