Geochemical evolution in Cacapon member: Fluid-rock interaction experiments and model insights for Appalachian Basin geothermal development

Bowman, Samuel H.; Barton, John; Xiong, Wei; Martin, A. C.; Isom, Shelby; Crandall, Dustin; Sharma, Shikha

doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2026.123313

Title: Geochemical evolution in Cacapon member: Fluid-rock interaction experiments and model insights for Appalachian Basin geothermal development

Journal Article · Thu Feb 19 00:00:00 UTC 2026 · Chemical Geology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2026.123313 · OSTI ID:3023003

Bowman, Samuel H. ^[1]; Barton, John ^[1]; Xiong, Wei ^[2]; Martin, A. C. ^[3];

^[4];

^[4]; Sharma, Shikha ^[5]

West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States); National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Morgantown, WV (United States)
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA (United States); NETL Support Contractor, Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
GATC Health, Morgantown, WV (United States); West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Morgantown, WV (United States)
West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)

Here, this study combines recirculated flow-through experimental results conducted for 17 days at 90C and 200 PSI with reactive transport modeling to estimate fluid-rock interactions occurring in a sandy mudstone using an interbedded sandstone-shale sample from the Cacapon Member of the upper Tuscarora Sandstone/lower Rose Hill Formation for the purpose of geothermal exploration. Results suggest that the fluid and rock are likely to be in or near partial-equilibrium after approximately one year. In addition, after >400 h of continuous injection at 0.05 mL/min (5*10⁻⁸ m³/min) the reactive front is restricted to the first ∼13% of the 4 cm*1.6 cm experimental rock length, whereas after >9100 h (∼1 year), the reactive front extends to 30% total length. The rate of changes in dissolution or precipitation are however, very minimal, with all major rock-forming minerals having rates <10⁻¹¹ mol/L porous media/s. Reservoir rock in the presence of dilute brine as may be the case during operation of an enhanced geothermal system would experience little alteration during the shut-in phase, and possibly up to one year. These results have utility in geothermal exploration for reservoirs at similar temperatures as well as general fluid-sandy mudstone rock interaction geochemistry.

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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 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Geothermal Technologies Office; USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0009597

OSTI ID:: 3023003

Journal Information:: Chemical Geology, Journal Name: Chemical Geology Journal Issue: 2026 Vol. 707; ISSN 0009-2541

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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