InterPore2025

Impact of Ostwald ripening on the stability of capillary-trapped CO2: a retrospective

20 May 2025, 09:05

15m

Oral Presentation (MS26) Mechanisms Across Scales in Subsurface CO2 storage: A Special Session in Honor of Sally Benson MS26

Speaker

Charlotte Garing (University of Georgia)

Description

Capillary trapping is a key mechanism that increases CO${}_2$ storage security by immobilizing a substantial fraction of the injected CO${}_2$ in the pores of the reservoir formation. The long-term stability of capillary-trapped CO${}_2$ is desirable, as remobilization of the trapped phase impacts the extent and rate of CO${}_2$ plume migration and CO${}_2$ dissolution and mineralization. Redistribution of the trapped CO${}_2$ phase may happen due to mass transfer driven by differences in capillary pressure between trapped CO${}_2$ ganglia, a process called Ostwald ripening.

This presentation details the early research dedicated to Ostwald ripening in porous media with application to geologic carbon storage, led by Sally Benson’s group. This includes experimental investigations using time-lapse x-ray microtomography imaging and the first pore-scale and continuum-scale modeling work.The talk also briefly reviews studies that this body of work has inspired in recent years and summarizes the main findings regarding the role of Ostwald ripening on the stability of capillary trapping.