Gravity currents in heterogeneous porous media

Gravity currents in heterogeneous porous media

As my research deals with modeling of fluid propagation by incorporating stochastic heterogeneity of underground media in the flow equations, i would need to become confident with modeling tools such as MODFLOW and with uncertainty quantification techniques, such as Monte-Carlo simulations. Then, the representation of the spatial variability of the porous medium properties requires an advanced knowledge of geostatistics and of stochastic modeling. Moreover, depending on the real-world application on which those models will be applied, additional fluid-mechanic skills would be required for addressing those particular cases. For example, dealing with CO2 geological sequestration requires knowledge in multiphase flow modeling, while the study of contaminants propagation needs transport modeling skills. I would be also interested in building knowledge in CFD modeling tools, such as OPENFOAM.

My research project aims to better describe and reproduce the influence of heterogeneity on the fluid flow in underground porous formations. The final goal would be the development of a model capable of incorporating the spatial variability of the porous medium properties into the flow equations, leading to a better reproduction of the fluid propagation over time. Potential future applications include the study of a CO2 current that is injected in the subsurface to implement CCS techniques or the monitoring of a contaminant plume after a spill into an aquifer, so that further remediation techniques could be applied.

Heterogeneity will be represented both in a deterministic way and in a stochastic way, and corresponding results will be compared at the end of the project. Theory of self-similarity will be used to deal with deterministic heterogeneity, which is the classical approach to find semi-analytical solution that describe the flow of gravity currents in the medium. Instead, the stochastic approach first requires a probabilistic description of the spatial variability of the medium properties, e.g. through geostatistics, with the further use of modeling tools, such as MODFLOW, to incorporate those variability in the flow equations.