Jung-Hwi Kihm

Bio: Jung-Hwi Kihm is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Groundwater discharge & Storage efficiency. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 4 publications receiving 6 citations.

Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of Impacts of Layered Heterogeneity and Groundwater Pumping Schemes on Seawater Intrusion

Abstract: A series of three-dimensional numerical simulations using a hydrodynamic dispersion numerical model is performed to analyze quantitatively impacts of layered heterogeneity of geologic media and groundwater pumping schemes on groundwater flow and salt transport in coastal aquifer systems. A two-layer heterogeneous coastal aquifer system composed of a lower sand layer (aquifer) and an upper clay layer (aquitard) and a corresponding single-layer homogeneous coastal aquifer system composed of an equivalent lumped material are simulated to evaluate impacts of layered heterogeneity on seawater intrusion. In addition, a continuous groundwater pumping scheme and two different periodical groundwater pumping schemes, which withdraw the same amount of groundwater during the total simulation time, are applied to the above two coastal aquifer systems to evaluate impacts of groundwater pumping schemes on seawater intrusion. The results of the numerical simulations show that the periodical groundwater pumping schemes have more significant adverse influences on groundwater flow and salt transport not only in the lower sand layer but also in the upper clay layer, and groundwater salinization becomes more intensified spatially and temporally as the pumping intensity is higher under the periodical groundwater pumping schemes. These imply that the continuous groundwater pumping scheme may be more suitable to minimize groundwater salinization due to seawater intrusion. The results of the numerical simulations also show that groundwater salinization in the upper clay layer occurs significantly different from that in the lower sand layer under the periodical groundwater pumping schemes. Such differences in groundwater salinization between the two adjacent layers may result from layered heterogeneity of the layered coastal aquifer system.

Trapping and Mobilization of Residual Fluid During Capillary Desaturation in Porous Media

Abstract: We discuss the problem of trapping and mobilization of nonwetting fluids during immiscible two phase displacement processes in porous media. Capillary desaturation curves give residual saturations as a function of capillary number. Interpreting capillary numbers as the ratio of viscous to capillary forces the breakpoint in experimental curves contradicts the theoretically predicted force balance. We show that replotting the data against a novel macroscopic capillary number resolves the problem for discontinuous mode displacement.

Evaluation of carbon dioxide storage in the deep saline layer of the Ordovician Majiagou Formation in the Ordos Basin

Abstract: Geologic CO2 storage (GCS) is one of the preferred solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Comparing with other geological reservoirs, the deep saline aquifers have huge storage potential and currently the most promising one. Since technical and economical viability of geologic CO2 storage depends highly on the CO2 storage capacity, this paper mainly uses the storage mechanism method to estimate the CO2 storage capacity of the Ordovician Majiagou Formation in order to give data support for GCS project in the Ordos Basin. The results show that the total effective CO2 storage capacity of the deep brine layer of the Ordovician Majiagou Formation in the Ordos Basin is 15.98-109.22Gt. The Majiagou Formation has sufficient storage capacity to accommodate decades of CO2 emissions generated by multiple coal-fired power plants in the Ordos Basin. For CO2 geological storage, the structural trapping mechanism contributes the largest amount of CO2 storage, and the amount of CO2 storage contributed by the two mechanisms of bound gas trapping and solubility trapping is almost negligible. The above results provide methods and references for CO2 estimation of GCS project in this region, and provide data support for the site selection and injection of CO2 sequestration in deep salt layers of the Ordos Basin.