Flow Heterogeneity Controls Dissolution Dynamics in Topologically Complex Rocks
Abstract Rock dissolution is a common subsurface geochemical reaction affecting pore space properties, crucial for reservoir stimulation, carbon storage, and geothermal energy. Predictive models for dissolution remain limited due to incomplete understanding of the mechanisms involved. We examine the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114369 |
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| author | Z. Kanavas J. Jimenez‐Martinez F. Miele J. Nimmo V. L. Morales |
| author_facet | Z. Kanavas J. Jimenez‐Martinez F. Miele J. Nimmo V. L. Morales |
| author_sort | Z. Kanavas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Rock dissolution is a common subsurface geochemical reaction affecting pore space properties, crucial for reservoir stimulation, carbon storage, and geothermal energy. Predictive models for dissolution remain limited due to incomplete understanding of the mechanisms involved. We examine the influence of flow, transport, and reaction regimes on mineral dissolution using 29 time‐resolved data from 3D rocks. We find that initial pore structure significantly influences the dissolution pattern, with reaction rates up to two orders of magnitude lower than batch conditions, given solute and fluid‐solid boundary constraints. Flow unevenness determines the location and rate of dissolution. We propose two models describing expected dissolution patterns and effective reaction rates based on dimensionless metrics for flow, transport, and reaction. Finally, we analyze feedback between evolving flow and pore structure to understand conditions that regulate/reinforce dissolution hotspots. Our findings underscore the major impact of flow arrangement on reaction‐front propagation and provide a foundation for controlling dissolution hotspots. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1cc60f9f46f54471b8b12acfdc7f3321 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-1cc60f9f46f54471b8b12acfdc7f33212025-08-20T03:44:25ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-04-01528n/an/a10.1029/2024GL114369Flow Heterogeneity Controls Dissolution Dynamics in Topologically Complex RocksZ. Kanavas0J. Jimenez‐Martinez1F. Miele2J. Nimmo3V. L. Morales4Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of California at Davis Davis CA USADepartment of Civil Environmental and Geomatic Engineering ETH Zürich Zürich SwitzerlandDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of California at Davis Davis CA USAU.S. Geological Survey Menlo Park CA USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of California at Davis Davis CA USAAbstract Rock dissolution is a common subsurface geochemical reaction affecting pore space properties, crucial for reservoir stimulation, carbon storage, and geothermal energy. Predictive models for dissolution remain limited due to incomplete understanding of the mechanisms involved. We examine the influence of flow, transport, and reaction regimes on mineral dissolution using 29 time‐resolved data from 3D rocks. We find that initial pore structure significantly influences the dissolution pattern, with reaction rates up to two orders of magnitude lower than batch conditions, given solute and fluid‐solid boundary constraints. Flow unevenness determines the location and rate of dissolution. We propose two models describing expected dissolution patterns and effective reaction rates based on dimensionless metrics for flow, transport, and reaction. Finally, we analyze feedback between evolving flow and pore structure to understand conditions that regulate/reinforce dissolution hotspots. Our findings underscore the major impact of flow arrangement on reaction‐front propagation and provide a foundation for controlling dissolution hotspots.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114369mineral dissolutionflow heterogeneityreaction ratiomobile‐immobileflow‐reaction feedbackpore structure |
| spellingShingle | Z. Kanavas J. Jimenez‐Martinez F. Miele J. Nimmo V. L. Morales Flow Heterogeneity Controls Dissolution Dynamics in Topologically Complex Rocks Geophysical Research Letters mineral dissolution flow heterogeneity reaction ratio mobile‐immobile flow‐reaction feedback pore structure |
| title | Flow Heterogeneity Controls Dissolution Dynamics in Topologically Complex Rocks |
| title_full | Flow Heterogeneity Controls Dissolution Dynamics in Topologically Complex Rocks |
| title_fullStr | Flow Heterogeneity Controls Dissolution Dynamics in Topologically Complex Rocks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Flow Heterogeneity Controls Dissolution Dynamics in Topologically Complex Rocks |
| title_short | Flow Heterogeneity Controls Dissolution Dynamics in Topologically Complex Rocks |
| title_sort | flow heterogeneity controls dissolution dynamics in topologically complex rocks |
| topic | mineral dissolution flow heterogeneity reaction ratio mobile‐immobile flow‐reaction feedback pore structure |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114369 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zkanavas flowheterogeneitycontrolsdissolutiondynamicsintopologicallycomplexrocks AT jjimenezmartinez flowheterogeneitycontrolsdissolutiondynamicsintopologicallycomplexrocks AT fmiele flowheterogeneitycontrolsdissolutiondynamicsintopologicallycomplexrocks AT jnimmo flowheterogeneitycontrolsdissolutiondynamicsintopologicallycomplexrocks AT vlmorales flowheterogeneitycontrolsdissolutiondynamicsintopologicallycomplexrocks |