Precipitation/dissolution of calcium carbonate in wellbore cement and its implications for the seal integrity of abandoned wells

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2016 · Proposed Journal Article, unpublished

OSTI ID:1326359

Matteo, Edward N. ^[1]; Huet, Bruno ^[2]; Scherer, George W. ^[3]

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1. Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ (United States); Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. LafargeHolcim R&D, Saint-Quentin-Fallavier (France)
3. Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ (United States)

Wellbore integrity of abandoned wells is of high priority for ensuring the containment of sequestered CO₂. Carbonic acid formed when injected CO₂ mixes with subsurface brines has the potential to damage well cement so as to compromise the seal integrity of the wellbore. Bench-scale experiments reported in the literature indicate that the well cement reaction rates are initially fast enough to constitute a potential threat to wellbore integrity. However, it has also been suggested that the formation of calcium carbonate within the cement effectively arrests the acid attack by forming a passivation layer (so called “self -sealing”) that prevents further leaching of cement minerals. As a result, a broader theoretical context is presented here that delineates brine composition regimes that will instigate self-sealing in cement during carbonic acid attack.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1326359
• Report Number(s): SAND--2016-5797J; 642183
• Journal Information: Proposed Journal Article, unpublished, Journal Name: Proposed Journal Article, unpublished Vol. 2016; ISSN 9999-9999
• Publisher: See Research Organization
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES