Open Access

ARTICLE

Numerical Simulation of Microscopic Seepage Mechanisms in Gas Reservoir Storage Systems

Yulong Zhao¹, Yang Luo^1,*, Yuming Luo², Yulai Pang², Ruihan Zhang¹, Zihan Zhao³

1 National Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, 610500, China
2 Chongqing Gas Mine, Southwest Oil & Gas Field Company, Petroleum China, Chongqing, 400000, China
3 Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Southwest Oil and Gas Field Company, PetroChina, Chengdu, 610041, China

* Corresponding Author: Yang Luo. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Fluid and Thermal Dynamics in the Development of Unconventional Resources III)

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2025, 21(12), 3073-3090. https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2025.070685

Received 21 July 2025; Accepted 15 December 2025; Issue published 31 December 2025

Abstract

The development of underground gas storage (UGS) systems is vital for maintaining stability between energy supply and demand. This study explores the dynamic response mechanisms of carbonate reservoirs subjected to intense injection–production cycling during UGS operations. By integrating three-dimensional digital core technology with a coupled poro-mechanical model, we simulate the pore-scale behavior of a representative Huangcaoxia UGS carbonate core. The results demonstrate that fluid–solid coupling effects markedly amplify permeability reduction, far exceeding the influence of porosity variations alone. More significantly, gas production leads to a pronounced decline in permeability driven by rising effective stress, arising from localized stress concentration at pore throats and reorganization of the internal flow field. The provided insights are intended as a theoretical basis for refining operational strategies and enhancing the long-term performance and reliability of underground gas storage facilities.

---

Keywords

---