MODELLING AND OPTIMIZING MULTIPHASE FLOW DYNAMICS FOR ENHANCED CO2 SEQUESTRATION IN COMPLEX POROUS MEDIA

The modelling and optimization of multiphase flow dynamics for enhanced CO2 sequestration in complex porousmedia is a significant research area in sustainable carbon management. This field focuses on simulating andoptimizing the interactions between injected CO2 and groundwater within heterogeneous subsurface formationsto maximize storage efficiency and maintain environmental integrity. Central to this approach is understandingthe migration of CO2, its phase behaviour, and capillary effects within porous rock matrices. The dynamic natureof CO2 flow, influenced by geological variability and multiphase interactions, necessitates advanced modellingtools such as finite element and lattice Boltzmann methods to predict behaviour accurately. These models help inassessing displacement mechanisms, CO2 plume development, and potential effects on groundwater quality. Theinclusion of groundwater interactions is vital, as it elucidates displacement dynamics, potential CO2 dissolution,and the formation of stable or mobile phases, all of which influence storage security and environmental impact.Optimization techniques are critical to this process, ensuring enhanced CO2 storage by minimizing leakage risksand sustaining caprock integrity. Techniques include strategic injection schemes, pressure management, and theuse of reactive transport modelling to foresee long-term outcomes. This holistic approach aims to bolster CO2sequestration as a viable method for mitigating climate change by enhancing the safety and efficiency ofsubsurface storage in complex geological systems.