Multiscale experimental study of H $$_2$$ /brine multiphase flow in porous rock characterizing relative permeability hysteresis, hydrogen dissolution, and Ostwald ripening
Abstract To safely and efficiently utilize porous reservoirs for underground hydrogen storage (UHS), it is essential to characterize hydrogen transport properties at multiple scales. In this study, hydrogen/brine multiphase flow at 50 bar and 25 °C in a 17 cm Berea sandstone rock core was characteri...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Maartje Boon Tim Rademaker Chandra Widyananda Winardhi Hadi Hajibeygi |
| author_facet | Maartje Boon Tim Rademaker Chandra Widyananda Winardhi Hadi Hajibeygi |
| author_sort | Maartje Boon |
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| description | Abstract To safely and efficiently utilize porous reservoirs for underground hydrogen storage (UHS), it is essential to characterize hydrogen transport properties at multiple scales. In this study, hydrogen/brine multiphase flow at 50 bar and 25 °C in a 17 cm Berea sandstone rock core was characterized and visualized at the pore and core scales using micro X-ray CT. The experiment included a single drainage and imbibition cycle during which relative permeability hysteresis was measured, and two no-flow periods to study the redistribution of hydrogen in the pore space during storage periods. An end-point relative permeability of 0.043 was found at $$S_w=0.56$$ , and the residual gas saturation was measured to be 0.32. Despite extensive pre-equilibration, significant dissolution of hydrogen into brine occurred near the core inlet due to elevated pressures and the corresponding increase in hydrogen solubility. During drainage, many disconnected hydrogen ganglia were observed further down the core which could be explained by the exsolution of the dissolved hydrogen. During imbibition, the dissolution of hydrogen led to the formation of preferential flow paths near the inlet, and eventually removed most of the trapped hydrogen in the final stage of the experiment. The two no-flow periods were characterized by the fragmentation of medium-sized hydrogen ganglia and the growth of a few larger ganglia, providing evidence for hydrogen re-connection through the dissolution-driven process of Ostwald ripening. These results demonstrate that despite the low solubility of hydrogen in brine, hydrogen dissolution can significantly influence the observed multiphase flow and trapping behavior in the reservoir and should be considered in UHS modeling. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-32ebf374ee534baa84c08c749076d09c2025-08-20T02:20:48ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111510.1038/s41598-024-81720-4Multiscale experimental study of H $$_2$$ /brine multiphase flow in porous rock characterizing relative permeability hysteresis, hydrogen dissolution, and Ostwald ripeningMaartje Boon0Tim Rademaker1Chandra Widyananda Winardhi2Hadi Hajibeygi3Institute of Applied Mechanics, University of StuttgartFaculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of TechnologyDepartment of Geology, Ghent UniversityFaculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of TechnologyAbstract To safely and efficiently utilize porous reservoirs for underground hydrogen storage (UHS), it is essential to characterize hydrogen transport properties at multiple scales. In this study, hydrogen/brine multiphase flow at 50 bar and 25 °C in a 17 cm Berea sandstone rock core was characterized and visualized at the pore and core scales using micro X-ray CT. The experiment included a single drainage and imbibition cycle during which relative permeability hysteresis was measured, and two no-flow periods to study the redistribution of hydrogen in the pore space during storage periods. An end-point relative permeability of 0.043 was found at $$S_w=0.56$$ , and the residual gas saturation was measured to be 0.32. Despite extensive pre-equilibration, significant dissolution of hydrogen into brine occurred near the core inlet due to elevated pressures and the corresponding increase in hydrogen solubility. During drainage, many disconnected hydrogen ganglia were observed further down the core which could be explained by the exsolution of the dissolved hydrogen. During imbibition, the dissolution of hydrogen led to the formation of preferential flow paths near the inlet, and eventually removed most of the trapped hydrogen in the final stage of the experiment. The two no-flow periods were characterized by the fragmentation of medium-sized hydrogen ganglia and the growth of a few larger ganglia, providing evidence for hydrogen re-connection through the dissolution-driven process of Ostwald ripening. These results demonstrate that despite the low solubility of hydrogen in brine, hydrogen dissolution can significantly influence the observed multiphase flow and trapping behavior in the reservoir and should be considered in UHS modeling.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81720-4UHSCore-flood testHydrogen dissolutionX-ray CTRelative permeabilityOstwald ripening |
| spellingShingle | Maartje Boon Tim Rademaker Chandra Widyananda Winardhi Hadi Hajibeygi Multiscale experimental study of H $$_2$$ /brine multiphase flow in porous rock characterizing relative permeability hysteresis, hydrogen dissolution, and Ostwald ripening Scientific Reports UHS Core-flood test Hydrogen dissolution X-ray CT Relative permeability Ostwald ripening |
| title | Multiscale experimental study of H $$_2$$ /brine multiphase flow in porous rock characterizing relative permeability hysteresis, hydrogen dissolution, and Ostwald ripening |
| title_full | Multiscale experimental study of H $$_2$$ /brine multiphase flow in porous rock characterizing relative permeability hysteresis, hydrogen dissolution, and Ostwald ripening |
| title_fullStr | Multiscale experimental study of H $$_2$$ /brine multiphase flow in porous rock characterizing relative permeability hysteresis, hydrogen dissolution, and Ostwald ripening |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multiscale experimental study of H $$_2$$ /brine multiphase flow in porous rock characterizing relative permeability hysteresis, hydrogen dissolution, and Ostwald ripening |
| title_short | Multiscale experimental study of H $$_2$$ /brine multiphase flow in porous rock characterizing relative permeability hysteresis, hydrogen dissolution, and Ostwald ripening |
| title_sort | multiscale experimental study of h 2 brine multiphase flow in porous rock characterizing relative permeability hysteresis hydrogen dissolution and ostwald ripening |
| topic | UHS Core-flood test Hydrogen dissolution X-ray CT Relative permeability Ostwald ripening |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81720-4 |
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