Hysteresis in permeability evolution simulated for a sandstone by mineral precipitation and dissolution

Abstract. Mineral dissolution and precipitation can substantially affect rock permeability, which is a critical parameter for broad range of geological subsurface applications. Virtual experiments on digital pore-scale samples represent powerful flexible approach to understand the impact microstructural alterations evolving hydraulic behaviour quantify trends in permeability. In present study, porosity-permeability relations are simulated precipitation-dissolution cycle within typical reservoir sandstone. A hysteresis permeability observed depending geochemical process dominating reaction regime, whereby six investigated paths varies by more than two orders magnitude at porosity 17 %. Controlling parameters this phenomenon closure re-opening micro-scale flow channels, derived from changes pore throat diameter connectivity network. general, transport-limited regime exhibits stronger reaction-limited uniformly alters space. case mineral precipitation, higher reduction results successive clogging throats, whereas dissolution, significantly increases due widening existing paths. Both, govern characteristic alterations, cannot be simply reversed inversion processes itself. Hence, evolution clearly depends hydrogeochemical history sample.