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Reactive Transport Modeling of Mineral Precipitation and Carbon Trapping in Discrete Fracture Networks

Journal Article · · Water Resources Research
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022wr032321· OSTI ID:1902917
 [1];  [1]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Energy Geosciences Division
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In this study we use numerical experiments to analyze reactive flow and transport behavior in discrete intersecting fracture networks, focusing on (a) how reaction-induced changes in physical and chemical properties affect flow connectivity and (b) how fracture networks developed in the Earth's critical zone contribute to carbon sequestration via mineral weathering reactions. In the first part of the study, we used two-dimensional reactive flow and transport simulations to analyze the impacts of mixing in a natural discrete fracture network. We concluded that reaction-induced changes can substantially alter the flow connectivity, especially at fracture intersections. The second set of simulations considered the problem of natural weathering of fractured mafic and ultramafic rocks in the partially saturated Earth's critical zone as a function of infiltration rates, fracture permeability, and partially saturated flow parameters. As a model system, we considered an incongruent reaction network with dissolution of forsterite and precipitation of magnesite. The behavior is complex in terms of the rate-controlling processes because of the multicomponent nature of the system as shown by the grid Peclet number: the CO2 behavior is gas diffusion-controlled in the partially saturated zone, while the rate of water flow via the Damkӧhler number controls Mg2+ transport through the fracture network. The amounts of carbon that can be trapped are modest, but the naturally fractured domain considered here provides a useful “base case” against which various engineered solutions can be compared.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1902917
Journal Information:
Water Resources Research, Vol. 58, Issue 9; ISSN 0043-1397
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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58 GEOSCIENCES
discrete fracture networks
reactive transport
CO2 mitigation
fracture connectivity
mineral precipitation
critical zone