Water/Methane Two‐Phase Flow in the SiO2 Nanoslit Can Be Well Described via the Deformed Water Layer Model: A Molecular Simulation Study

Abstract The intricate flow processes in nano‐pores pose limitations on the extraction of resources such as shale gas and gas hydrates. To observe water/gas two‐phase flow in nano‐pores, we employed molecular dynamics simulations on water/methane two‐phase flow in a hydrophilic SiO2 nanoslit, and ob...

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Main Authors: Chao Zheng, Guang‐Jun Guo, Cheng Lu, Yanhui Dong, Bo Peng, Wei Tang, Bingyao Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113458
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author Chao Zheng
Guang‐Jun Guo
Cheng Lu
Yanhui Dong
Bo Peng
Wei Tang
Bingyao Han
author_facet Chao Zheng
Guang‐Jun Guo
Cheng Lu
Yanhui Dong
Bo Peng
Wei Tang
Bingyao Han
author_sort Chao Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The intricate flow processes in nano‐pores pose limitations on the extraction of resources such as shale gas and gas hydrates. To observe water/gas two‐phase flow in nano‐pores, we employed molecular dynamics simulations on water/methane two‐phase flow in a hydrophilic SiO2 nanoslit, and obtained high‐quality data by applying the “pump method” and “nano‐manometer.” This study revealed the variation in phase distribution during flow process, and assessed the impact of water phase distribution on methane gas flow. We proposed the “Deformed Water Layer (DWL) model” based on physical mechanisms, which can precisely describe methane relative permeability and forecast the critical water saturation for forming water lock. Our results suggest a two‐stage transition in methane gas permeability with increasing water saturation within nano‐pores, governed by spatial deformation of water phase. This phenomenon underscores that maintaining a reduced groundwater saturation is imperative to facilitate superior gas permeability and enhance recovery efficacy.
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institution OA Journals
issn 0094-8276
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language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Wiley
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-975f4fb27bbc4ef79f5808760418e6162025-08-20T02:31:09ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-02-01524n/an/a10.1029/2024GL113458Water/Methane Two‐Phase Flow in the SiO2 Nanoslit Can Be Well Described via the Deformed Water Layer Model: A Molecular Simulation StudyChao Zheng0Guang‐Jun Guo1Cheng Lu2Yanhui Dong3Bo Peng4Wei Tang5Bingyao Han6Key Laboratory of Deep Petroleum Intelligent Exploration and Development Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Deep Petroleum Intelligent Exploration and Development Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P.R. ChinaCenter of Oil & Natural Gas Resource Exploration China Geological Survey Beijing P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Deep Petroleum Intelligent Exploration and Development Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Deep Petroleum Intelligent Exploration and Development Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Deep Petroleum Intelligent Exploration and Development Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Deep Petroleum Intelligent Exploration and Development Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P.R. ChinaAbstract The intricate flow processes in nano‐pores pose limitations on the extraction of resources such as shale gas and gas hydrates. To observe water/gas two‐phase flow in nano‐pores, we employed molecular dynamics simulations on water/methane two‐phase flow in a hydrophilic SiO2 nanoslit, and obtained high‐quality data by applying the “pump method” and “nano‐manometer.” This study revealed the variation in phase distribution during flow process, and assessed the impact of water phase distribution on methane gas flow. We proposed the “Deformed Water Layer (DWL) model” based on physical mechanisms, which can precisely describe methane relative permeability and forecast the critical water saturation for forming water lock. Our results suggest a two‐stage transition in methane gas permeability with increasing water saturation within nano‐pores, governed by spatial deformation of water phase. This phenomenon underscores that maintaining a reduced groundwater saturation is imperative to facilitate superior gas permeability and enhance recovery efficacy.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113458
spellingShingle Chao Zheng
Guang‐Jun Guo
Cheng Lu
Yanhui Dong
Bo Peng
Wei Tang
Bingyao Han
Water/Methane Two‐Phase Flow in the SiO2 Nanoslit Can Be Well Described via the Deformed Water Layer Model: A Molecular Simulation Study
Geophysical Research Letters
title Water/Methane Two‐Phase Flow in the SiO2 Nanoslit Can Be Well Described via the Deformed Water Layer Model: A Molecular Simulation Study
title_full Water/Methane Two‐Phase Flow in the SiO2 Nanoslit Can Be Well Described via the Deformed Water Layer Model: A Molecular Simulation Study
title_fullStr Water/Methane Two‐Phase Flow in the SiO2 Nanoslit Can Be Well Described via the Deformed Water Layer Model: A Molecular Simulation Study
title_full_unstemmed Water/Methane Two‐Phase Flow in the SiO2 Nanoslit Can Be Well Described via the Deformed Water Layer Model: A Molecular Simulation Study
title_short Water/Methane Two‐Phase Flow in the SiO2 Nanoslit Can Be Well Described via the Deformed Water Layer Model: A Molecular Simulation Study
title_sort water methane two phase flow in the sio2 nanoslit can be well described via the deformed water layer model a molecular simulation study
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113458
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