An Investigation into CO 2 –Brine–Cement–Reservoir Rock Interactions for Wellbore Integrity in CO 2 Geological Storage

Amir Jahanbakhsh, Qi Liu, Mojgan Hadi Mosleh, Harshit Agrawal, Nazia Mubeen Farooqui, Jim Buckman, Montserrat Recasens, Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Anna Korre and Sevket Durucan
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Amir Jahanbakhsh: Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Qi Liu: Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Mojgan Hadi Mosleh: Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BP, UK
Harshit Agrawal: Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BP, UK
Nazia Mubeen Farooqui: Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Jim Buckman: Institute of Geo-Energy Engineering, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Montserrat Recasens: Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Mercedes Maroto-Valer: Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Anna Korre: Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BP, UK
Sevket Durucan: Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BP, UK

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-21

Abstract: Geological storage of CO 2 in saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs can help mitigate CO 2 emissions. However, CO 2 leakage over a long storage period represents a potential concern. Therefore, it is critical to establish a good understanding of the interactions between CO 2 –brine and cement–caprock/reservoir rock to ascertain the potential for CO 2 leakage. Accordingly, in this work, we prepared a unique set of composite samples to resemble the cement–reservoir rock interface. A series of experiments simulating deep wellbore environments were performed to investigate changes in chemical, physical, mechanical, and petrophysical properties of the composite samples. Here, we present the characterisation of composite core samples, including porosity, permeability, and mechanical properties, determined before and after long-term exposure to CO 2 -rich brine. Some of the composite samples were further analysed by X-ray microcomputed tomography (X-ray µ-CT), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM–EDX). Moreover, the variation of ions concentration in brine at different timescales was studied by performing inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis. Although no significant changes were observed in the porosity, permeability of the treated composite samples increased by an order of magnitude, due mainly to an increase in the permeability of the sandstone component of the composite samples, rather than the cement or the cement/sandstone interface. Mechanical properties, including Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio, were also reduced.

Keywords: CO 2 geological storage; wellbore integrity; CO 2 –brine-cement–reservoir rock interaction; permeability; chemical and petrophysical characterisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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