Evaporite Caprock Integrity. An experimental study of reactive mineralogy and pore-scale heterogeneity during brine-CO2 exposure

Smith, Megan M.; Sholokhova, Yelena; Hao, Yue; Carroll, Susan A.

doi:10.1021/es3012723

Evaporite Caprock Integrity. An experimental study of reactive mineralogy and pore-scale heterogeneity during brine-CO₂ exposure

Journal Article · Wed Jul 25 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es3012723· OSTI ID:1237526

Smith, Megan M. ^[1]; Sholokhova, Yelena ^[1]; Hao, Yue ^[1]; Carroll, Susan A. ^[1]

Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Characterization and geochemical data are presented from a core-flooding experiment on a sample from the Three Fingers evaporite unit forming the lower extent of caprock at the Weyburn-Midale reservoir, Canada. This low-permeability sample was characterized in detail using X-ray computed microtomography before and after exposure to CO ₂-acidified brine, allowing mineral phase and voidspace distributions to be quantified in three dimensions. Solution chemistry indicated that CO ₂-acidified brine preferentially dissolved dolomite until saturation was attained, while anhydrite remained unreactive. Dolomite dissolution contributed to increases in bulk permeability through the formation of a localized channel, guided by microfractures as well as porosity and reactive phase distributions aligned with depositional bedding. An indirect effect of carbonate mineral reactivity with CO ₂-acidified solution is voidspace generation through physical transport of anhydrite freed from the rock matrix following dissolution of dolomite. The development of high permeability fast pathways in this experiment highlights the role of carbonate content and potential fracture orientations in evaporite caprock formations considered for both geologic carbon sequestration and CO ₂-enhanced oil recovery operations.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1237526

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL--544136

Journal Information:: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 47; ISSN 0013-936X

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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A review of geochemical–mechanical impacts in geological carbon storage reservoirs Akono, Ange‐Therese; Druhan, Jennifer L.; Dávila, Gabriela Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Vol. 9, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1870	journal	May 2019
Permeability impairment of a limestone reservoir triggered by heterogeneous dissolution and particles migration during CO ₂ -rich injection: DISSOLUTION-INDUCED PARTICLE MIGRATION Mangane, Papa O.; Gouze, Philippe; Luquot, Linda Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 40, Issue 17 https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50595	journal	September 2013
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Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
anhydrite
caprock stability
dolomite
enhanced oil recovery
evaporate
fracture
geologic carbon sequestration
x-ray tomography