CT image‒based estimation of permeability evolution of wellbore cement
under geologic carbon sequestration conditions
Abstract
The combination of X-ray imaging and CT image‒based computational fluid
dynamics (CFD) simulation allows study of flow in fractured porous
media. In this study, X-ray imaging was employed to unveil the
morphological and aperture alterations of artificial fractures in
wellbore cement cores that were exposed to CO2-saturated brine under
geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) conditions. Direct pore-scale
modelling of fluid flow through 3D fractures reconstructed from CT
images was carried out to reveal velocity distribution in the fracture
and for estimation of local and average permeability of the fracture.
Varying-radius pipe representations of the fractures were established
using the optimal characteristic radius formulation that was determined
from the relation of flow cross-section shape and conductivity based on
direct pore-scale modelling. Varying-radius pipeline modelling of fluid
flow through simplified fractures was also implemented and the local and
average permeability results based on varying-radius pipeline modelling
were compared against those based on direct pore-scale modelling. The
fracture after CO2 exposure in the reactive diffusion process was
covered by substantial precipitated calcite, and the permeability of the
fracture decreased from 4.15×10-8 m2 to 2.96×10-8 m2. In contrast, the
fracture after CO2 exposure in the reactive flow process underwent
significant dissolution, a large number of tensile micro-fractures were
formed at the surface of the fracture, and the permeability of the
fracture increased from 3.91×10-8 m2 to 4.23×10-8 m2. The relative error
of the average fracture permeability obtained from direct pore-scale
modelling (-7.33%‒4.05%) was comparable with that obtained from
varying-radius pipeline modelling (-7.77%‒10.64%).