Title: Study on CO₂ diffusion process in heavy oil saturated porous media using experiment and simulation

Authors: Wei Liu; Lin Du; Wen Liu; Xiaoyuan Qin; Xin Luo

Addresses: College of Energy Resources, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan 610059, China ' College of Energy Resources, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan 610059, China ' College of Energy Resources, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan 610059, China ' College of Energy Resources, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan 610059, China ' College of Energy Resources, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan 610059, China

Abstract: To explore the CO₂ diffusion in heavy oil saturated porous media, a mathematical model was developed to simulate the diffusion process by coupling the gas state equation. Then the experiment of CO₂ diffusion in heavy oil saturated porous media was carried out and CO₂ diffusion coefficient was determined by fitting the experimental data with the established model. Using the measured diffusion coefficient as an input parameter, the CO₂ diffusion process in porous media was simulated and the factors that affected the diffusion process were analysed in this paper. The simulation results show that diffusion direction on the rock surface is in the tangential direction of the rock and points to where the CO₂ concentration potential decreases. Furthermore, the contact area of the heavy oil and CO₂ has a vital impact on the CO₂ diffusion amount and CO₂ concentration distribution. [Received: November 24, 2019; Accepted: August 7, 2020]

Keywords: CO₂; heavy oil; porous media; diffusion coefficient; simulation analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2021.117449

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2021 Vol.28 No.2, pp.160 - 173

Received: 24 Nov 2019
Accepted: 07 Aug 2020
Published online: 07 Sep 2021 *

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