Pore-Scale Insights into Multiphase Flow in Porous Media Using Advanced Imaging Techniques
Speaker: Dr. Shuangmei Zou
Bio: Dr. Shuangmei Zou received her PhD degree from the University of New South Wales, Australia and is currently an Associate Professor at the China University of Geosciences, Wuhan. Her research focuses on multiphase flow in porous media with applications in hydrocarbon recovery, underground energy storage and environmental contaminant transport. She specializes in integrating micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and microfluidic platforms to investigate pore-scale fluid behavior relevant to subsurface engineering. Dr. Zou has led and contributed to numerous projects on enhanced oil recovery, residual oil characterization, and digital core analysis etc.
Abstract: Multiphase flow in porous media is fundamental to various geological processes, including carbon capture, geothermal energy production, and enhanced oil recovery. However, the inherent heterogeneity and cross-scale effects of natural porous media—such as aquifer sands and fractured rock formations—induce strong nonlinearities in subsurface multiphase flow, complicating its prediction and control. Traditional hydrological methods, limited by observation scale, often fail to capture the pore-scale mechanisms driving these complex flow behaviors.
To address this gap, we have developed a non-invasive in situ visualization platform that combines high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (micro-CT) and microfluidic technology, enabling dynamic, micrometer-scale observation of pore-scale multiphase processes. This integrated approach allows us to quantify key parameters such as fluid saturation, interfacial properties, and capillary forces, offering deep insights into pore-scale flow processes.
Our experimental results show: (1) Wettability significantly influences multiphase flow behavior in sandy porous media by altering fluid distribution and force balance, thereby affecting relative permeability mechanisms; (2) Energy conversion and dissipation pathways vary with wettability, fluid viscosity, and injection rate, leading to distinct flow regimes, whose morphological features and energy responses are experimentally characterized.
These findings not only advance our understanding of flow mechanisms in heterogeneous media but also support the development of predictive models for improved design and optimization of subsurface engineering systems, including CO₂ sequestration, groundwater remediation, and geothermal energy extraction.