A simulation study of reactive flow in 2-D involving dissolution and precipitation in sedimentary rocks

•Simulation of dissolution, precipitation in sedimentary rock.•Stokes' equation solved by finite difference method.•Role of Peclet number, concentration and Damkholer number on reactive flow studied.•Temporal development of porosity and permeability correlated with variables.

SummaryIn this paper we solve the Navier Stokes' equation using finite difference method, on a simulated porous rock structure in 2-D, to study the velocity distribution of fluid flowing through it under a constant pressure gradient. A reactive solute carried through the fluid is allowed to interact with the minerals in the rock. Depending on the rock composition, both dissolution and precipitation reactions may occur. However precipitation occurs only through the cations that are released in the solution due to dissolution. These combined dissolution-precipitation reactions change the porosity, permeability and pore geometry of the sedimentary rock. We study the temporal changes of these properties as functions of Peclet number, concentration of the reactive solute and ratio of Damkholer numbers of dissolution to precipitation. The final flow property is decided by a combination of these parameters.