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

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es3012723· OSTI ID:1237526
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
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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.

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, Vol. 47, Issue 1; ISSN 0013-936X
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 80 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (4)

Permeability impairment of a limestone reservoir triggered by heterogeneous dissolution and particles migration during CO 2 -rich injection: DISSOLUTION-INDUCED PARTICLE MIGRATION journal September 2013
Permeability of Wellbore-Cement Fractures Following Degradation by Carbonated Brine journal December 2012
Reactive Transport Simulation of Fracture Channelization and Transmissivity Evolution journal January 2019
A review of geochemical–mechanical impacts in geological carbon storage reservoirs journal May 2019

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