Discrete element modeling of indentation tests to investigate mechanisms of CO2-related chemomechanical rock alteration

Sun, Zhuang; Espinoza, D. Nicolas; Balhoff, Matthew T.

doi:10.1002/2016JB013554

Discrete element modeling of indentation tests to investigate mechanisms of CO₂-related chemomechanical rock alteration

Journal Article · Tue Oct 18 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013554· OSTI ID:1470243

Sun, Zhuang ^[1]; Espinoza, D. Nicolas ^[1]; Balhoff, Matthew T. ^[1]

Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

During CO₂ injection into geological formations, petrophysical and geomechanical properties of host formations can be altered due to mineral dissolution and precipitation. Field and laboratory results have shown that sandstone and siltstone can be altered by CO₂-water mixtures, but few quantitative studies have been performed to fully investigate underlying mechanisms. Based on the hypothesis that CO₂-water mixtures alter the integrity of rock structure by attacking cements rather than grains, we attempt to explain the degradation of cementation due to long-term contact with CO₂ and water and mechanisms for changes in rock mechanical properties. Many sandstones, including calcite-cemented quartzitic sandstone, chlorite-cemented quartzitic sandstone, and hematite-cemented quartzitic sandstone, contain interparticle cements that are more readily affected by CO₂-water mixtures than grains. A model that couples the discrete element method and the bonded-particle model is used to perform simulations of indentation tests on synthetic rocks with crystal and random packings. The model is verified against the analytical cavity expansion model and validated against laboratory indentation tests on Entrada sandstone with and without CO₂ alteration. Sensitivity analysis is performed for cementation microscopic parameters including stiffness, size, axial, and shear strength. The simulation results indicate that the CO₂-related degradation of mechanical properties in bleached Entrada sandstone can be attributed to the reduction of cement size rather than cement strength. Finally, our study indicates that it is possible to describe the CO₂-related rock alteration through particle-scale mechanisms.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security (CFSES)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0001114

OSTI ID:: 1470243

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 121; ISSN 2169-9313

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
CO2 sequestration
carbon sequestration
discrete element model
indentation test
bonded-particle model
mechanical rock alteration
nuclear (including radiation effects)