Micro CT and Experimental Study of Carbonate Precipitation from CO 2 and Produced Water Co-Injection into Sandstone

Julie K. Pearce, Grant K. W. Dawson, Silvano Sommacal and Suzanne D. Golding
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Julie K. Pearce: Centre for Natural Gas, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
Grant K. W. Dawson: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
Silvano Sommacal: Research School of Electrical Energy and Materials Engineering, the Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Suzanne D. Golding: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia

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

Abstract: Carbon dioxide geological storage involves injecting captured CO 2 streams into a suitable reservoir. Subsequent mineral trapping of the CO 2 as carbonate minerals is one of the most secure forms of trapping. Injection of CO 2 dissolved in water or co-injection of CO 2 with water may enhance trapping mechanisms. Produced waters are already re-injected into reservoirs worldwide, and their co-injection with CO 2 could enhance mineral trapping in low reactivity rock by providing a source of cations. Sandstone drill core from a reservoir proposed for CO 2 storage was experimentally reacted with supercritical CO 2 and a synthetic produced water. Micro computed tomography (CT), QEMSCAN, and SEM were performed before and after the reaction. The sandstone sample was predominantly quartz with minor illite/muscovite and kaolinite. The sandstone sub-plug micro-CT porosity was 11.1% and 11.4% after the reaction. Dissolved Ca, Mg, and Sr decreased during the reaction. After the reaction with CO 2 and synthetic produced water, precipitation of crystalline carbonate minerals calcite and dolomite was observed in the pore space and on the rock surface. In addition, the movement of pore filling and bridging clays, as well as grains was observed. Co-injection of CO 2 with produced waters into suitable reservoirs has the potential to encourage CO 2 mineral trapping.

Keywords: CO 2 storage; micro-CT; sandstone reservoir; mineral trapping; produced water; CO 2 -water-rock reactions; Precipice Sandstone; Surat Basin; production water (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
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