Time-resolved 2D and 3D imaging of hydrogen and brine displacement processes in porous Clashach sandstone
Time-resolved 2D and 3D imaging of hydrogen and brine displacement processes in porous Clashach sandstone
Hydrogen (H2) storage in porous geological formations offers a promising means to balance supply and demand in the renewable energy sector, supporting the energy transition. Important unknowns to this technology include the H2 fluid flow dynamics through the porous medium which affect H2 injectivity and recovery. We used time-resolved X-ray computed microtomography to image real-time unsteady and steady state injections of H2 and brine (2 M KI) into a Clashach sandstone core at 5 MPa and ambient temperature. In steady state injections, H2 entered the brine-saturated rock within seconds, dispersing over several discrete pores. Over time, some H2 ganglia connected, disconnected and then reconnected from each other (intermittent flow), indicating that the current presumption of a constant connected flow pathway during multiphase fluid flow is an oversimplification. Pressure oscillations at the sample outlet were characterized as red noise, supporting observations of intermittent pore-filling. At higher H2 fractional flow the H2 saturation in the pore space increased from 20–22 % to 28 %. Average Euler characteristics were generally positive over time at all H2 flow fractions, indicating poorly connected H2 clusters and little control of connectivity on the H2 saturation. In unsteady state injections, H2 displaced brine in sudden pore-filling events termed Haines jumps, which are key to understanding fluid dynamics in porous media. Our results suggest a lower H2 storage capacity in sandstone aquifers with higher injection-induced hydrodynamic flow and suggest a low H2 recovery. For more accurate predictions of H2 storage potential and recovery, geological models should incorporate energy-dissipating processes such as Haines jumps.
Core flood experiments, Euler characteristic, Haines jumps, Hydrogen, Intermittent flow, Relative permeability, Underground storage, µCT
Thaysen, Eike M.
4ef01541-ada6-4f4c-9d1b-16e1fcc34061
Butler, Ian B.
8247a198-63bc-4a22-bb75-97a37dee724d
Hassanpouryouzband, Aliakbar
88b0e750-5011-45ff-a396-c91a0848eda8
Spurin, Catherine
af249827-57ab-450b-ad5c-bca44197eab9
Freitas, Damien
36cef800-2c61-4540-aef6-5c3731c0a681
Rizzo, Roberto
28c17dab-60e0-4f84-be65-7d3f38dd28d8
Alvarez-Borges, Fernando
5512cdfd-6ad3-475f-8aec-2fc767607314
Atwood, Robert
853929bc-679d-47bb-8ba8-acd139fc857e
Edlmann, Katriona
b07f28c0-fd3d-4353-adbc-e3896e5e482c
2 May 2025
Thaysen, Eike M.
4ef01541-ada6-4f4c-9d1b-16e1fcc34061
Butler, Ian B.
8247a198-63bc-4a22-bb75-97a37dee724d
Hassanpouryouzband, Aliakbar
88b0e750-5011-45ff-a396-c91a0848eda8
Spurin, Catherine
af249827-57ab-450b-ad5c-bca44197eab9
Freitas, Damien
36cef800-2c61-4540-aef6-5c3731c0a681
Rizzo, Roberto
28c17dab-60e0-4f84-be65-7d3f38dd28d8
Alvarez-Borges, Fernando
5512cdfd-6ad3-475f-8aec-2fc767607314
Atwood, Robert
853929bc-679d-47bb-8ba8-acd139fc857e
Edlmann, Katriona
b07f28c0-fd3d-4353-adbc-e3896e5e482c
Thaysen, Eike M., Butler, Ian B., Hassanpouryouzband, Aliakbar, Spurin, Catherine, Freitas, Damien, Rizzo, Roberto, Alvarez-Borges, Fernando, Atwood, Robert and Edlmann, Katriona
(2025)
Time-resolved 2D and 3D imaging of hydrogen and brine displacement processes in porous Clashach sandstone.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 694, [137704].
(doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2025.137704).
Abstract
Hydrogen (H2) storage in porous geological formations offers a promising means to balance supply and demand in the renewable energy sector, supporting the energy transition. Important unknowns to this technology include the H2 fluid flow dynamics through the porous medium which affect H2 injectivity and recovery. We used time-resolved X-ray computed microtomography to image real-time unsteady and steady state injections of H2 and brine (2 M KI) into a Clashach sandstone core at 5 MPa and ambient temperature. In steady state injections, H2 entered the brine-saturated rock within seconds, dispersing over several discrete pores. Over time, some H2 ganglia connected, disconnected and then reconnected from each other (intermittent flow), indicating that the current presumption of a constant connected flow pathway during multiphase fluid flow is an oversimplification. Pressure oscillations at the sample outlet were characterized as red noise, supporting observations of intermittent pore-filling. At higher H2 fractional flow the H2 saturation in the pore space increased from 20–22 % to 28 %. Average Euler characteristics were generally positive over time at all H2 flow fractions, indicating poorly connected H2 clusters and little control of connectivity on the H2 saturation. In unsteady state injections, H2 displaced brine in sudden pore-filling events termed Haines jumps, which are key to understanding fluid dynamics in porous media. Our results suggest a lower H2 storage capacity in sandstone aquifers with higher injection-induced hydrodynamic flow and suggest a low H2 recovery. For more accurate predictions of H2 storage potential and recovery, geological models should incorporate energy-dissipating processes such as Haines jumps.
Text
1-s2.0-S0021979725010951-main
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 24 April 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 26 April 2025
Published date: 2 May 2025
Keywords:
Core flood experiments, Euler characteristic, Haines jumps, Hydrogen, Intermittent flow, Relative permeability, Underground storage, µCT
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 502522
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/502522
ISSN: 0021-9797
PURE UUID: 79d46f00-87f7-4335-8436-d19ccdf821c5
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 30 Jun 2025 16:35
Last modified: 16 Oct 2025 18:11
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Eike M. Thaysen
Author:
Ian B. Butler
Author:
Aliakbar Hassanpouryouzband
Author:
Catherine Spurin
Author:
Damien Freitas
Author:
Roberto Rizzo
Author:
Fernando Alvarez-Borges
Author:
Robert Atwood
Author:
Katriona Edlmann
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics