Alteration of Fractured Foamed Cement Exposed to CO2-Saturated Water: Implications for Well Integrity

Min, Yujia; Montross, Scott N.; Spaulding, Richard; Brandi, Meghan; Huerta, Nicolas J.; Thomas, Randal B.; Kutchko, Barbara

doi:10.1021/acs.est.1c02699

Alteration of Fractured Foamed Cement Exposed to CO2-Saturated Water: Implications for Well Integrity

Journal Article · Tue Oct 05 04:00:00 EDT 2021 · Environmental Science & Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c02699· OSTI ID:1829668

Min, Yujia ^[1]; Montross, Scott N. ^[2]; Spaulding, Richard ^[1]; Brandi, Meghan ^[1]; ^[3]; Thomas, Randal B. ^[2]; Kutchko, Barbara ^[4]

National Energy Technology Laboratory
BATTELLE COLUMBUS OFFICE
BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Geologic CO2 storage (GCS) is a method to mitigate the adverse impact of global climate change. Potential leakage of CO2 from fractured cement at the wellbore poses a risk to the feasibility of GCS. Foamed cement is widely applied in deepwater wells where fragile geologic formations cannot support the weight of conventional cement. Thus, it is critical to know whether fractures in foamed cement self-seal in a similar manner as conventional cement systems. This study is the first to investigate the changes in physical and chemical attributes of foamed cement under dynamic flow conditions using CO2-saturated water. Self-sealing of fractures in the cement was observed at a solution flow rate of 0.1 mL/min and a pressure of 6.9 MPa. The formation of CaCO3 precipitates in pore spaces and fractures led to a decrease in permeability by 1 order of magnitude. The extents of self-sealing in foamed cement samples, specifically the 20 and 30% air volume formulations, were similar to that of conventional cements. We attribute this to the greater alteration depth in the foamed cement, which compensated for the reduced availability of Portlandite and higher initial porosity. The results can be used to evaluate the risk of leakage associated with foamed cement.

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

DOE Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1829668

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-166794

Journal Information:: Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science & Technology Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 55

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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