Ostwald ripening leads to less hysteresis during hydrogen injection and withdrawal: a pore-scale imaging study
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Goodarzi, Sepideh
Zhang, Guanglei
Bijeljic, Branko
Blunt, Martin J
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This study explores hydrogen storage in Bentheimer sandstone using high-resolution 3D X-ray imaging during
hydrogen injection and brine flooding cycles. The results reveal a reduction in hysteresis during hydrogen
injection and withdrawal, attributed to Ostwald ripening–the transport of dissolved hydrogen in the aqueous
phase to balance local capillary pressure. Hydrogen saturation reached 82% after injection, while the residual
saturation decreased significantly from 40% in the first cycle of brine injection (imbibition) to less than 18%
in the third. End-point capillary pressure during gas injection was directly measured as 20, 9, and 3 kPa
in the first, second, and third cycles, respectively. During the imbibition steps, the gas saturation decreased
consistently, reflecting reduced trapping effects and improved gas connectivity. After 16 h of rest, a single
large connected ganglion formed, further reducing the Euler characteristic per unit volume from -10 mm−3
to -23 mm−3 during the third drainage cycle. These findings highlight that traditional hysteresis models that
ignore the effect of Ostwald ripening over-estimate the amount of residual trapping in hydrogen storage.
hydrogen injection and brine flooding cycles. The results reveal a reduction in hysteresis during hydrogen
injection and withdrawal, attributed to Ostwald ripening–the transport of dissolved hydrogen in the aqueous
phase to balance local capillary pressure. Hydrogen saturation reached 82% after injection, while the residual
saturation decreased significantly from 40% in the first cycle of brine injection (imbibition) to less than 18%
in the third. End-point capillary pressure during gas injection was directly measured as 20, 9, and 3 kPa
in the first, second, and third cycles, respectively. During the imbibition steps, the gas saturation decreased
consistently, reflecting reduced trapping effects and improved gas connectivity. After 16 h of rest, a single
large connected ganglion formed, further reducing the Euler characteristic per unit volume from -10 mm−3
to -23 mm−3 during the third drainage cycle. These findings highlight that traditional hysteresis models that
ignore the effect of Ostwald ripening over-estimate the amount of residual trapping in hydrogen storage.
Date Issued
2025-03-31
Date Acceptance
2025-02-04
Citation
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2025, 114, pp.475-485
ISSN
0360-3199
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
475
End Page
485
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume
114
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Subjects
BENTHEIMER SANDSTONE
Capillary pressure
CAPILLARY-PRESSURE
Chemistry
Chemistry, Physical
DRAINAGE
Electrochemistry
Energy & Fuels
Gas connectivity
Hydrogen storage
Hysteresis
INTERFACIAL CURVATURE
Ostwald ripening
Physical Sciences
RELATIVE PERMEABILITY
Science & Technology
STORAGE
SUPERCRITICAL CO2
Technology
Trapping
WATER
X-RAY MICROTOMOGRAPHY
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2025-03-11