Mixed-Porosity Microfluidic Chip for Carbonate Reservoir Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing micromodels are limited in effectively modeling carbonate reservoirs with complex bimodal porosity, which hinders the understanding of multiphase fluid behaviors and interactions crucial for enhanced oil recovery.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic chip with mixed porosities is fabricated by synthesizing calcium carbonate spheres and sodium chloride crystals, forming microporous and macroporous structures that mimic the porosity of carbonate reservoirs, allowing for the study of oil-water phase behavior and rock-fluid interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If existing micromodels are used to model carbonate reservoirs, then the modeling process is simple, but the accuracy of representing complex bimodal porosity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous materials with bimodal pore size distribution (micropores and macropores) to accurately represent carbonate reservoir porosity. The microporous structures are formed by sintering spherical grains, and macropores are created by dissolving sacrificial particles, creating a realistic porous medium that captures the complex porosity characteristics of natural reservoirs.
Solution Approach 2:
The microfluidic chip utilizes composite material structures combining different porous phases (microporous and macroporous regions) within a single device. This composite approach allows simultaneous representation of both fine and coarse pore networks, enabling accurate modeling of bimodal porosity systems while maintaining device functionality.
2Manufacturing precision
If microporous structures are formed by sintering spherical grains, then the micropore structure is created, but the macropore structure cannot be formed simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
Sacrificial particles are pre-positioned within the spherical grain packing before sintering. This preliminary arrangement ensures that macropore locations are predetermined and will be accurately formed after dissolution, allowing simultaneous creation of both microporous and macroporous structures in a single fabrication sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
Soluble sacrificial particles serve as intermediary structures during fabrication. These particles temporarily occupy the spaces where macropores will eventually form, allowing the microporous structure to be built around them during sintering. Subsequent dissolution of the sacrificial particles cleanly creates the macropore network without disrupting the microporous framework.
3Manufacturing precision
If the chip is designed to model complex porosity, then the reservoir modeling accuracy is improved, but the visualization of fluid behaviors becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The microfluidic chip employs thin-film fabrication techniques to create a transparent, optically clear device structure. This allows optical access to the internal porous structures and enables visualization of fluid behaviors through the chip using microscopy and other optical detection methods, despite the complex internal porosity architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex three-dimensional porous structure is designed with optimized geometry and orientation to allow two-dimensional optical observation. By carefully controlling the spatial arrangement of pores and channels, the system enables visualization of fluid behavior in the plane of observation while maintaining realistic 3D porosity characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The chip provides a more accurate representation of natural carbonate reservoirs, enabling the visualization of fluid behaviors and interactions, thus improving oil recovery efficiency by simulating the complex porosity and geochemical surface of underground reservoirs.
Implementation Method 1
The spherical grains form microporous structures in the channel. The microporous structures are sintered in the channel.
Implementation Method 2
A solvent is injected into the channel, and the solvent dissolves the sacrificial particles and forms macropores between at least some of the microporous structures
Data Source
AI summary
Spherical grains and sacrificial particles are mixed in a suspension. The sacrificial particles are larger than the spherical grains. The suspension is injected into a channel in a microfluidic chip, and the spherical grains form microporous structures in the channel. The microporous structures are sintered in the channel. A solvent is injected into the channel, and the solvent dissolves the sacrificial particles and forms macropores between at least some of the microporous structures, thereby forming a mixed-porosity microfluidic chip.