Effect of the Density Difference on Fluid Distribution in Layered Rock Samples

作     者：Yongfei Yang Tonghui Liu Yingwen Li Weichen Sun Hai Sun Lei Zhang Junjie Zhong Kai Zhang Jun Yao 

作者机构：State Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas China University of Petroleum (East China) Qingdao 266580 P. R. China；Research Center of Multiphase Flow in Porous Media School of Petroleum Engineering China University of Petroleum (East China) Qingdao 266580 P. R. China Geosteering & Logging Research Institute Sinopec Matrix Corporation Qingdao 266071 P. R. China Research Center of Multiphase Flow in Porous Media School of Petroleum Engineering China University of Petroleum (East China) Qingdao 266580 P. R. China 

出 版 物：《Energy & Fuels》 

年 卷 期：2025年第39卷第9期

页      面：4412-4420页

摘      要：During geological CO2storage, gravity segregation due to fluid density differences significantly affects the efficiency and safety of the process. This can result in premature CO2breakthrough, reduced storage efficiency, and increased leakage risks. This study aims to investigate how gas migrates in layered heterogeneous reservoirs over time due to prolonged density differences and to assess the resulting impact on fluid distribution. We use artificially layered heterogeneous sandstone cores for experimentation. After completing gas injection and water flooding experiments, the core was positioned with the low permeability layer (LPL) at the top and the high permeability layer (HPL) at the bottom for an extended period. Because the effects of density differences are not easily discernible during gas–water two-phase flow under typical driving forces, we applied micro-CT imaging technology to visualize and analyze how density differences influence gas flow within the core. The results demonstrate that during the static placement period following displacement, gas clusters exhibit different flow behaviors at the pore throats. Most gas clusters struggle to overcome the Jamin effect and enter into the upper pores; a few large-volume gas clusters, driven by density differences, partially pass through the throats into the upper pores, while the remaining portions are stranded within the throats, leading to a snap-off phenomenon; while some gas clusters successfully overcome the Jamin effect and enter the upper pores in significant numbers. The experimental findings indicate that the LPL effectively hinder the upward migration of the nonwetting phase gases from bottom and fluid density differences significantly influence gas–water distribution changes. This study provides critical insights for optimizing CO2storage and offers a new perspective on fluid behavior in layered heterogeneous reservoirs.