Dr. Sebastian Geiger - Towards integrating direct numerical pore-scale simulations with 3D printing
Dr. Sebastian Geiger Energi Simulation Chair from Heriot-Watt University. Reservoir-scale flow and transport in porous media is ultimately controlled by the physio-chemical processes that occur between fluids and minerals at the pore-scale. The rapid evolution of X-Ray Computed Micro-Tomography (X-Ray CT) has enabled the visualisation and quantification of these pore-scale processes and revolutionised our understanding how pore-scale mechanisms impact large-scale reservoir behaviour. However, a fundamental challenge is that X-Ray CT experiments lack repeatability and are difficult to control because one reservoir rock is different from the next – the properties of the rock, such as mineralogy, reactivity, and wettability are not known a priori but must be inferred from the experimental data. Digital rock physics, i.e. the numerical simulation of pore-scale processes, complement the interpretation and quantification of X-Ray CT experiments and enable us to upscale the processes from the pore- to the continuum (i.e. Darcy) scale. However, these numerical simulations are difficult to validate because key simulation parameters such as wettability distributions must be tuned against (uncertain) experimental data. 3D printing has the potential to overcome these limitations in X-Ray CT imaging and pore-scale simulations because, in theory, 3D printing could enable us to design bespoke pore-geometries with a priori known properties, hence enabling fully controllable and repeatable experiments that provide unique experimental datasets to validate numerical simulations. This presentation will review some of our recent advances, and challenges, in integrating direct numerical simulations of pore-scale processes with 3D printing of pore-geometries and highlight how new collaborations across a number of Energi Simulation Chairs has enabled us to pool resources and knowledge to make step changes in this exciting new field.
Dr. Sebastian Geiger Energi Simulation Chair from Heriot-Watt University. Reservoir-scale flow and transport in porous media is ultimately controlled by the physio-chemical processes that occur between fluids and minerals at the pore-scale. The rapid evolution of X-Ray Computed Micro-Tomography (X-Ray CT) has enabled the visualisation and quantification of these pore-scale processes and revolutionised our understanding how pore-scale mechanisms impact large-scale reservoir behaviour. However, a fundamental challenge is that X-Ray CT experiments lack repeatability and are difficult to control because one reservoir rock is different from the next – the properties of the rock, such as mineralogy, reactivity, and wettability are not known a priori but must be inferred from the experimental data. Digital rock physics, i.e. the numerical simulation of pore-scale processes, complement the interpretation and quantification of X-Ray CT experiments and enable us to upscale the processes from the pore- to the continuum (i.e. Darcy) scale. However, these numerical simulations are difficult to validate because key simulation parameters such as wettability distributions must be tuned against (uncertain) experimental data. 3D printing has the potential to overcome these limitations in X-Ray CT imaging and pore-scale simulations because, in theory, 3D printing could enable us to design bespoke pore-geometries with a priori known properties, hence enabling fully controllable and repeatable experiments that provide unique experimental datasets to validate numerical simulations. This presentation will review some of our recent advances, and challenges, in integrating direct numerical simulations of pore-scale processes with 3D printing of pore-geometries and highlight how new collaborations across a number of Energi Simulation Chairs has enabled us to pool resources and knowledge to make step changes in this exciting new field.