InterPore2026

Heterogeneity-controlled trapping behavior in long-term CO₂ sequestration: field-scale THC reactive transport simulations

20 May 2026, 10:05

1h 30m

Poster Presentation (MS07) Mathematical and numerical methods for multi-scale multi-physics, nonlinear coupled processes Poster

Speaker

Chia-Wei Kuo (Science and Technology Research Institute for DE-Carbonization (STRIDE-C), National Taiwan University)

Description

Long-term geological CO₂ sequestration is governed by strongly coupled thermo–hydro–chemical (THC) processes operating within heterogeneous formations across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Reliable assessment of storage efficiency and long-term mineral trapping requires resolving nonlinear multiphase flow, temperature-dependent geochemical reactions, and porosity–permeability feedbacks under both injection and post-injection conditions.
This study develops a high-resolution field-scale reactive transport modeling framework that integrates geological and geophysical datasets to construct three-dimensional subsurface models with explicit stratigraphic architecture, permeability distributions, and capillary heterogeneity. Two-dimensional axisymmetric and three-dimensional field-scale simulations are conducted to quantify CO₂ plume migration, pressure buildup, dissolution, and mineral trapping under multiple injection scenarios.
Preliminary analyses and ongoing simulations indicate that capillary heterogeneity, in addition to permeability contrasts and layer connectivity, is expected to exert a first-order control on trapping behavior, including plume spreading patterns, pressure propagation, dissolution pathways, and mineralization fronts. Distinct trapping behaviors are anticipated to emerge under different heterogeneity configurations, potentially leading to fundamentally different long-term mineral trapping efficiencies and risk envelopes. These expected outcomes suggest that capillary heterogeneity, which is commonly neglected in field-scale reactive transport studies, may play a critical role in controlling long-term storage performance.
A selected offshore region along the northwestern coast of Taiwan is used as a demonstration site to illustrate methodological applicability under realistic geological conditions. The proposed framework provides a scalable, physics-consistent platform for long-term CCS assessment and is readily extensible to coupled THC–mechanical formulations, enabling future evaluation of stress-dependent permeability evolution and fault reactivation risks.