Two-Phase Flow Mechanisms Controlling CO2 Intrusion into Shaly Caprock

Kivi, I. R.; Makhnenko, R. Y.; Vilarrasa, V.

doi:10.1007/s11242-022-01748-w

Title: Two-Phase Flow Mechanisms Controlling CO2 Intrusion into Shaly Caprock

Journal Article · 11 February 2022 · Transport in Porous Media

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-022-01748-w · OSTI ID:1845037

; Makhnenko, R. Y.; Vilarrasa, V.

Abstract Geologic carbon storage in deep saline aquifers has emerged as a promising technique to mitigate climate change. CO ₂ is buoyant at the storage conditions and tends to float over the resident brine jeopardizing long-term containment goals. Therefore, the caprock sealing capacity is of great importance and requires detailed assessment. We perform supercritical CO ₂ injection experiments on shaly caprock samples (intact caprock and fault zone) under representative subsurface conditions. We numerically simulate the experiments, satisfactorily reproducing the observed evolution trends. Simulation results highlight the dynamics of CO ₂ flow through the specimens with implications to CO ₂ leakage risk assessment in field practices. The large injection-induced overpressure drives CO ₂ in free phase into the caprock specimens. However, the relative permeability increase following the drainage path is insufficient to provoke an effective advancement of the free-phase CO ₂ . As a result, the bulk CO ₂ front becomes almost immobile. This implies that the caprock sealing capacity is unlikely to be compromised by a rapid capillary breakthrough and the injected CO ₂ does not penetrate deep into the caprock. In the long term, the intrinsically slow molecular diffusion appears to dominate the migration of CO ₂ dissolved into brine. Nonetheless, the inherently tortuous nature of shaly caprock further holds back the diffusive flow, favoring safe underground storage of CO ₂ over geological time scales.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: European Research Council (ERC); European Union (EU); Ministry of Science and Innovation; USDOE; USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0029381

OSTI ID:: 1845037

Journal Information:: Transport in Porous Media, Journal Name: Transport in Porous Media Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 141; ISSN 0169-3913

Publisher:: Springer Science + Business MediaCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: Netherlands

Language:: English

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