抄録
Storage of CO_2 to geological formations such as aquifers is considered as one of the possible options for the abatement of CO_2 emission to the atmosphere. Understandings of microscopic two-phase flows in porous media are very important to assess the long-term fate and trapping mechanism of stored CO_2. We had developed a numerical code, which simulates two-phase flow of supercritical CO_2 and water in porous media including the effect of interfacial tension, wettability, density, and viscosity by means of the lattice Boltzmann method. We investigated effect of CO_2 saturation on flow patterns of two-phase flow in a microscopic model of porous media which have highly water-wet surfaces. A present study shows that the interfacial tension affects the relative permeability of CO_2 and its bubble is trapped in porous media as non-wetting phase by capillary forces. Because the non-wetting phase selectively passes through the large pores, inhomogeneous porous structure affects the flow pattern of CO_2.
