Modelling the evolution of complex conductivity during calcite precipitation on glass beads
- French Geological Survey (BRGM), Orléans (France)
- Imperial College, London (United Kingdom)
- Pierre and Marie Curie Univ. (UPMC), Paris (France)
- Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, Le Bourget-du-Lac (France). Inst. of Earth Sciences (ISTerre)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
When pH and alkalinity increase, calcite frequently precipitates and hence modifies the petrophysical properties of porous media. The complex conductivity method can be used to directly monitor calcite precipitation in porous media because it is sensitive to the evolution of the mineralogy, pore structure and its connectivity. Here, we have developed a mechanistic grain polarization model considering the electrochemical polarization of the Stern and diffuse layers surrounding calcite particles. Our complex conductivity model depends on the surface charge density of the Stern layer and on the electrical potential at the onset of the diffuse layer, which are computed using a basic Stern model of the calcite/water interface. The complex conductivity measurements of Wu et al. on a column packed with glass beads where calcite precipitation occurs are reproduced by our surface complexation and complex conductivity models. The evolution of the size and shape of calcite particles during the calcite precipitation experiment is estimated by our complex conductivity model. At the early stage of the calcite precipitation experiment, modelled particles sizes increase and calcite particles flatten with time because calcite crystals nucleate at the surface of glass beads and grow into larger calcite grains. Finally, at the later stage of the calcite precipitation experiment, modelled sizes and cementation exponents of calcite particles decrease with time because large calcite grains aggregate over multiple glass beads and only small calcite crystals polarize.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; European Commission (EC); National Agency for Research (ANR) (France)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231; 662147; ANR-12-SEED-0002
- OSTI ID:
- 1476476
- Journal Information:
- Geophysical Journal International, Vol. 209, Issue 1; ISSN 0956-540X
- Publisher:
- Oxford University PressCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
Electrical conductivity and induced polarization investigations at Krafla volcano, Iceland
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journal | December 2018 |
| A fractal model for the electrical conductivity of water-saturated porous media during mineral precipitation-dissolution processes | text | January 2020 |
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