Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1007/s40948-023-00703-3
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Extended analysis of benchmarks for gas phase appearance in low-permeable rocks
Author Grunwald, N.; Nagel, T.; Pitz, M.; Kolditz, O. ORCID logo
Source Titel Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources
Year 2023
Department ENVINF
Volume 9
Page From art. 170
Language englisch
Topic T8 Georesources
Keywords Non-isothermal twophase flow; Geomechanics; Gas phase appearance; OpenGeoSys; Benchmark analysis; Gas migration mechanisms
Abstract

This manuscript presents a comprehensive study on the numerical simulation of gas transport in clay rock using the finite-element method, with a specific focus on the transition of the transport regime from single-phase to two-phase conditions. Our code demonstrates the capability to cover this transition seamlessly, without relying on common approaches such as the use of persistent primary variables or the switching of primary variables. In our simulations, the primary variables are gas pressure, capillary pressure, temperature, and displacement of the solid phase. To validate our approach, two benchmark tests were conducted. The first benchmark replicates a well-known scenario in the field of radioactive waste disposal, where gas injection induces a transition from single-phase to two-phase flow. The second benchmark simulates a core drilling experiment, where the mechanical unloading of a fully saturated domain results in the appearance of a gas phase. In addition to analyzing primary quantities, a comprehensive set of secondary variables was introduced to gain deeper insights into the model’s operation and enhance understanding of the underlying processes. By plotting these secondary variables alongside the primary quantities, a comprehensive understanding of the system’s behavior during the transition of flow regimes was obtained. The primary objective of this work is to improve our understanding and confidence in the model used for simulating large repository systems, particularly in the context of nuclear waste disposal and CO2 storage. By successfully capturing the transition from single-phase to two-phase gas transport, our study provides valuable insights into the behavior of gas in clay rock. This enhanced understanding lays the groundwork for utilizing the model effectively in large-scale repository simulations, contributing to the advancement of the field of gas transport in clay rock.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=28406
Grunwald, N., Nagel, T., Pitz, M., Kolditz, O. (2023):
Extended analysis of benchmarks for gas phase appearance in low-permeable rocks
Geomech. Geophys. Geo-Energy Geo-Resour. 9 , art. 170 10.1007/s40948-023-00703-3