Using Sand Tank Experiments to Model CO2 Plume Migration and Trapping

Explore the use of sand tank experiments for modeling CO2 plume migration and trapping in geologic storage through this 53-minute lecture by Dr. Hailun Ni from the Bureau of Economic Geology. Discover how these experiments help de-risk CO2 storage by providing insights into the effects of heterogeneities on plume behavior. Learn about two types of sand tank fluid flow experiments: one simulating field-scale models and another focusing on small-scale heterogeneities. Examine the investigation of CO2 flow through high-permeability faults and various ripple lamination bedforms using two-phase, buoyancy-driven fluid flow experiments. Understand the use of surrogate fluid pairs and glass beads with varying properties to study their impact on plume behavior. Gain knowledge on how these experimental results can directly validate simulations and improve larger-scale simulation models for enhanced accuracy in CO2 storage predictions.