Impacts of irregularly-distributed acidified brine flow on geo-chemo-mechanical alteration in an artificial shale fracture under differential stress

Fuchs, Samantha J.; Crandall, Dustin; Moore, Johnathan E.; Sivaguru, Mayandi; Fouke, Bruce W.; Espinoza, D. Nicolas; Akono, Ange-Therese; Werth, Charles J.

doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2024.104127

Title: Impacts of irregularly-distributed acidified brine flow on geo-chemo-mechanical alteration in an artificial shale fracture under differential stress

Journal Article · 14 May 2024 · International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2024.104127 · OSTI ID:2396657

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^[2]; Sivaguru, Mayandi ^[3]; Fouke, Bruce W. ^[4];

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^[5]; Werth, Charles J. ^[1]

Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Morgantown, WV (United States)
Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States); Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States)
Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)

The efficacy of geological carbon sequestration is reliant on the integrity of the caprock and its resistance to physical and chemical alteration. Caprocks with high abundance of reactive carbonates like calcite are susceptible to acid-promoted dissolution and can result in structural weakening. This work investigates the effect of acidified brine flow through an artificially fractured, high-carbonate (30 % by XRD) shale under differential compressive stress. Cylindrical samples were cut in half vertically and milled to create an artificial fracture with interlocking asperities and open channels. Samples were sheared with a single applied stress in a custom flow cell housed within an industrial CT scanner. Further, either acidic (pH 4) or reservoir-simulated (pH 9.5) brine was flowed through the artificial fracture for 7–8 days under reservoir pressure and room temperature. Model simulations indicate flow mainly occurred in open channels, with limited flow between overlapping asperities. Analysis of fracture surfaces by optical and scanning electron microscopy show increased surface alteration and roughness after exposure to pH 4 versus pH 9.5 brine indicating mineral dissolution/loss, and this effect is greater in areas that receive the highest brine flows. Similarly, surface analysis by scratch testing shows fracture toughness decreases more after exposure to acidic versus reservoir-simulated brine, with the greatest alteration in areas of highest acidic brine flows. Despite weakening, no shear slip occurred. Overall, the results indicate that acidified brine can result in significant physical and geomechanical alteration of irregular fracture surfaces in shale caprock, with greatest effects in preferential flow regions.

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Research Organization:: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), Office of Carbon Management; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: FC26-05NT42588; SC0017328

OSTI ID:: 2396657

Journal Information:: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Journal Name: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Vol. 135; ISSN 1750-5836

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Impacts of irregularly-distributed acidified brine flow on geo-chemo-mechanical alteration in an artificial shale fracture under differential stress

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