Search Results (14)

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) geosequestration is a critical technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with shale caprocks, such as Opalinus Clay (OPA), serving as essential seals to prevent CO₂ leakage. This study employs computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis to investigate the hydromechanical behavior of OPA during CO₂ injection, integrating qualitative and quantitative insights. Validated numerical models indicate that capillary forces are the most critical factor in determining the material’s reaction, with an entry capillary pressure of 2–6 MPa serving as a significant threshold for CO₂ breakthrough. The numbers show that increasing the stress loading from 5 to 30 MPa lowers permeability by 0.3–0.45% for every 5 MPa increase. Porosity, on the other hand, drops by 9.2–9.4% under the same conditions. The OPA is compacted, and axial displacements confirm numerical models with an error margin of less than 10%. Saturation analysis demonstrates that CO₂ penetration becomes stronger at higher injection pressures (8–12 MPa), although capillary barriers slow migration until critical pressures are reached. These results demonstrate how OPA’s geomechanical stability and fluid dynamics interact, indicating that it may be utilized as a caprock for CO₂ storage. The study provides valuable insights for enhancing injection techniques and assessing the safety of long-term storage. Full article

This work examines how multiphase flow behavior during CO₂ and N₂ displacement in a microfluidic chip under capillary-dominated circumstances is affected by interfacial tension (IFT) and the viscosity ratio. In order to simulate real pore-scale displacement operations, microfluidic tests were performed on a 2D rock chip at flow rates of 1, 10, and 100 μL/min (displacement of water by N₂/supercritical CO₂). Moreover, core flooding experiments were performed on various sandstone samples collected from three different geological basins in Australia. Although CO₂ is notably denser and more viscous than N₂, the findings show that its displacement efficiency is more influenced by the IFT values. Low water recovery in CO₂ is the result of non-uniform displacement that results from a high mobility ratio and low IFT; this traps remaining water in smaller pores via snap-off mechanisms. However, due to the blebbing effect, N₂ injection enhances the dissociation of water clots, resulting in a greater swept area and fewer remaining water clusters. The morphological investigation of the residual water indicates various displacement patterns; CO₂ leaves more retained water in irregular shapes, while N₂ enables more uniform displacement. These results confirm earlier studies and suggest that IFT has a crucial role in fluid displacement proficiency in capillary-dominated flows, particularly at low flow rates. This study emphasizes the crucial role of IFT in improving water recovery through optimizing the CO₂ flooding process. Full article

This study aims to develop the marine geo-polymer cement that was produced with seawater, recycled particles from paste, recycled particles from glass, and alkaline activators, including NaOH or Na₂O·3.3SiO₂. The physicochemical properties and strength of MGPC were investigated with a Uniaxial Compression Test, Particle Size Analysis, Energy Dispersive Spectrometer, X-ray Diffraction, and Thermal-field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results indicated that the main hydration products in MGPC were calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), silica (SiO₂), sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (Na₂O·Al₂O₃·xSiO₂·2H₂O, N-A-S-H), and aluminum calcium silicate hydrate (CaO·Al₂O₃·2SiO₂·4H₂O, C-A-S-H). The calcium carboaluminate (3CaO·Al₂O₃·CaCO₃·32H₂O, CO₃-AFm) in MGPC was converted into CaCO₃ and Friedel’s salt (3CaO·Al₂O₃·CaCl₂·10H₂O), which prompted the carbon sequestration. The microstructure of MGPC prepared using Na₂O·3.3SiO₂ was based on RPG as the matrix, with N-A-S-H, C-A-S-H, and fibrous AFt growing on the periphery. This structure reduces the impact of the alkali–silica reaction on the material and improves its compressive strength. Therefore, the MGPC developed in this study shows the exact benefits of freshwater and natural minerals saving, carbon sequestration, and damage resistance. Full article

CO₂–slickwater hybrid fracturing technology is an essential part of shale gas recovery and CO₂ geo-storage. However, the exposure to supercritical CO₂ (ScCO₂) and slickwater can result in potential changes of the pore structures and surface wetting behavior, which affect the gas transportation and CO₂ sequestration security in shale reservoirs. Therefore, in this paper, X-ray diffraction (XRD), low-pressure nitrogen gas adsorption (N₂GA), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and fractal analysis were used to describe the pore characteristics of shale before and after ScCO₂–slickwater coupling treatments. Shale’s surface wettability was confirmed by contact angle measurements. After the ScCO₂–slickwater treatments, the number of micropores (<3.5 nm) and mesopores (3.5–50 nm) increased, while that of macropores (>50 nm) declined based on the N₂GA and MIP experiments. Combined with fractal analysis, we argue that the pore connectivity diminished and the pore structure became more complicated. By analyzing the results of XRD, shale pore changes occurring after the ScCO₂–slickwater treatment can be explained by the adsorption of polyacrylamide (PAM). Contact angle measurement results showed that the shale’s surface treated by ScCO₂ and slickwater was more hydrophilic than that treated by ScCO₂ and water, and indirectly prove our argument above. Hence, the coupling using effect of ScCO₂ and slickwater can impair the negative effect of CO₂ on the shale capillary force to improve shale gas productivity, but it can negatively affect the security of CO₂ sequestration in shale reservoirs. Full article

CO₂ geosequestration is an important contributor to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13, i.e., Climate Action, which states a global Net-Zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. A potential impact of CO₂ geosequestration in depleted oil and gas reservoirs is the variations in induced pressure across the caprocks, which can lead to significant local variations in CO₂ saturation. A detailed understanding of the relationship between the pressure gradient across the caprock and local CO₂ concentration is of utmost importance for assessing the potential of CO₂ geosequestration. Achieving this through experimental techniques is extremely difficult, and thus, we employ a coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Method (FEM) based solver to mimic sub-critical CO₂ injection in Opalinus Clay under various pressure gradients across the sample. The geomechanical and multiphase flow modelling utilising Darcy Law helps evaluate local variations in CO₂ concentration in Opalinus Clay. Well-validated numerical results indicate favourable sub-critical CO₂ geosequestration under a positive pressure gradient across Opalinus Clay. In the absence of a positive pressure gradient, a peak CO₂ concentration of 5% has been recorded, which increases substantially (above 90%) as the pressure gradient across the sample increases. Full article

The performance of carbon geo-sequestration is influenced by several parameters, such as the heterogeneity of the reservoir, the characteristics of the caprock, the wettability of the rock, and the salinity of the aquifer brine. Although many characteristics, like the formation geology, are fixed and cannot be altered, it is feasible to choose and manipulate other parameters in order to design an optimized storage programme such as the implementation of CO₂ injection techniques, including continuous injection or water alternating CO₂, which can significantly increase storage capacity and guarantee secure containment. Although WAG (water-alternating-gas) technology has been widely applied in several industrial sectors such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO₂ geo-sequestration, the impact of the CO₂-to-water ratio on the performance of CO₂ geo-sequestration in heterogeneous formations has not been investigated. In this study, we have constructed a 3D heterogeneous reservoir model to simulate the injection of water alternating gas in deep reservoirs. We have tested several CO₂-water ratios, specifically the 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 ratios. Additionally, we have estimated the capacity of CO₂ trapping, as well as the mobility and migration of CO₂. Our findings indicate that injecting a low ratio of CO₂ to water (specifically 1:2) resulted in a much better performance compared to situations with no water injection and high CO₂-water ratios. The residual and solubility trappings were notably increased by 11% and 19%, respectively, but the presence of free mobile CO₂ was reduced by 27%. Therefore, in the reservoir under investigation, the lower CO₂-water ratio is recommended due to its improvement in CO₂ storage capacity and containment security. Full article

Characterization of stress-dependent single-phase and multiphase fluid transport in fractured geo-materials is essential for a wide range of applications, including CO₂ sequestration, energy storage, and geo-energy extraction. However, pivotal studies on capillarity and multiphase fluid flow in deformable rock fractures are surprisingly sparse. In this study, we initially investigated the hydro-mechanical properties of an intact mixed-wet Calumet carbonate from the Waterways formation (Alberta) under isothermal conditions (40 °C). Then, we conducted core-flooding experiments using water and N₂ to assess changes in the aperture, absolute permeability, relative permeability, and capillary pressure of an artificially fractured Calumet core in response to changes in effective confining stress during loading (0–10 MPa) and unloading (10–3 MPa). We quantified the fracture’s non-linear closure and hysteresis effect during the cyclic loading–unloading processes. We found that porosity and absolute permeability of the fracture decreased from 1.5% and 19.8 D to 1.18% and 0.22 D, respectively, during the loading. We revealed a systematic rightward shift in the relative permeability and a significant upward shift in the dynamic capillary pressure curves as the fracture deformed. This fundamental study demonstrates the critical role of fracture deformation on fluid flow in fractured rocks, which paves the way for future research in geoscience and engineering. Full article

Carbon geo-sequestration (CGS), as a well-known procedure, is employed to reduce/store greenhouse gases. Wettability behavior is one of the important parameters in the geological CO₂ sequestration process. Few models have been reported for characterizing the contact angle of the brine/CO₂/mineral system at different environmental conditions. In this study, a smart machine learning model, namely Gene Expression Programming (GEP), was implemented to model the wettability behavior in a ternary system of CO₂, brine, and mineral under different operating conditions, including salinity, pressure, and temperature. The presented models provided an accurate estimation for the receding, static, and advancing contact angles of brine/CO₂ on various minerals, such as calcite, feldspar, mica, and quartz. A total of 630 experimental data points were utilized for establishing the correlations. Both statistical evaluation and graphical analyses were performed to show the reliability and performance of the developed models. The results showed that the implemented GEP model accurately predicted the wettability behavior under various operating conditions and a few data points were detected as probably doubtful. The average absolute percent relative error (AAPRE) of the models proposed for calcite, feldspar, mica, and quartz were obtained as 5.66%, 1.56%, 14.44%, and 13.93%, respectively, which confirm the accurate performance of the GEP algorithm. Finally, the investigation of sensitivity analysis indicated that salinity and pressure had the utmost influence on contact angles of brine/CO₂ on a range of different minerals. In addition, the effect of the accurate estimation of wettability on CO₂ column height for CO₂ sequestration was illustrated. According to the impact of wettability on the residual and structural trapping mechanisms during the geo-sequestration of the carbon process, the outcomes of the GEP model can be beneficial for the precise prediction of the capacity of these mechanisms. Full article

Urban Open Spaces (UOS) are green infrastructures that provide social and ecosystem services. Green public areas contribute to mitigation and adaptation strategies for addressing climate changes, but their maintenance has a significant cost. Frequent grass cutting operations must be carried out during growing periods to ensure the safe livability of UOS to citizens. In the present paper, a geo database was developed to map green public areas of the city of Latina (Lazio Region, Central Italy) by using a multisource dataset according to the European INSPIRE Directive. The GreenCAL Tool was implemented. Two algorithms to determine UOS extension and the necessary budget for grass cutting operations are used, considering the contribution of different mowing (i.e., mulcher, lawnmower, or brush cutter) and UOS extension itself (~160 ha). The implemented processing chain allowed us to simulate forestation of abandoned areas and potential CO₂ sequestration values. Two different scenarios of maintenance programs were also implemented to reduce more than 60% of operational cost according to: (1) different use of UOS; (2) their position within the urban area; (3) guidelines of Italian working group on public green management; and (4) management of vegetal residues. The management of the latter, derived by mowing, contribute to more than 23% of the budget allocated to maintain UOS. Besides the long-term environmental and health perspective, the short-term impact of the present applied research is relevant for a geomatic approach, green public procurements, as well as land use and climate interactions. The alternative management of UOS discussed in the present paper can also reduce organic waste production if the mowing within the UOS is managed as a resource for agriculture rather than urban waste. Full article

CO₂–brine–rock interaction impacts the behavior and efficiency of CO₂ geological storage; a thorough understanding of these impacts is important. A lot of research in the past has considered the nature and impact of CO₂–brine–rock interaction and much has been learned. Given that the solubility and rate of mineralization of CO₂ in brine under reservoir conditions is slow, free and mobile, CO₂ will be contained in the reservoir for a long time until the phase of CO₂ evolves. A review of independent research indicates that the phase of CO₂ affects the nature of CO₂–brine–rock interaction. It is important to understand how different phases of CO₂ that can be present in a reservoir affects CO₂–brine–rock interaction. However, the impact of the phase of CO₂ in a CO₂–brine–rock interaction has not been given proper attention. This paper is a systematic review of relevant research on the impact of the phase of CO₂ on the behavior and efficiency of CO₂ geological storage, extending to long-term changes in CO₂, brine, and rock properties; it articulates new knowledge on the effect of the phase of CO₂ on CO₂–brine–rock behavior in geosequestration sites and highlights areas for further development. Full article

Gas flow in a coal seam is a complex process due to the complicated coal structure and the sorption characteristics of coal to adsorbable gas (such as carbon dioxide and methane). It is essential to understand the gas migration patterns for different fields of engineering, such as CBM exploitation, underground coal mine gas drainage, and CO₂ geo-sequestration. Many factors influence gas migration patterns. From the surface production wells, the in-seam patterns of gas content cannot be quantified, and it is difficult to predict the total gas production time. In order to understand the gas flow patterns during gas recovery and the gas content variations with respect to production time, a solid-fluid coupled gas migration model is proposed to illustrate the gas flow in a coal seam. Field data was collected and simulation parameters were obtained. Based on this model, different scenarios with different borehole sizes were simulated for both directional boreholes and normal parallel boreholes in coal seams. Specifically, the borehole sizes for the directional boreholes were 10 m, 15 m, and 20 m. The borehole sizes for the normal parallel boreholes were 2 m, 4 m, and 6 m. Under different gas drainage leading times, the total gas recovery and residual gas contents were quantified. In Longwall Panel 909 of the Wuhushan coal mine, one gas drainage borehole and five 4 m monitoring boreholes were drilled. After six months of monitoring, the residual gas content was obtained and compared with the simulation results. Of the total gas, 61.36% was drained out from the first 4 m borehole. In this field study, the effective drainage diameter of the drainage borehole was less than 8 m after six months of drainage. The gas drainage performance was tightly affected by the borehole size and the gas drainage time. It was determined that the field observations were in line with the simulation results. The findings of this study can provide field data for similar conditions. Full article

Streaming potential is a promising method for a variety of hydrogeophysical applications, including the characterisation of the critical zone, contaminant transport or saline intrusion. A simple bundle of capillary tubes model that accounts for realistic pore and pore throat size distribution of porous rocks is presented in this paper to simulate the electrokinetic coupling coefficient and compared with previously published models. In contrast to previous studies, the non-monotonic pore size distribution function used in our model relies on experimental data for Berea sandstone samples. In our approach, we combined this explicit capillary size distribution with the alternating radius of each capillary tube to mimic pores and pore throats of real rocks. The simulation results obtained with our model predicts water saturation dependence of the relative electrokinetic coupling coefficient more accurately compared with previous studies. Compared with previous studies, our simulation results demonstrate that the relative coupling coefficient remains stable at higher water saturations but vanishes to zero more rapidly as water saturation approaches the irreducible value. This prediction is consistent with the published experimental data. Moreover, our model was more accurate compared with previously published studies in computing the true irreducible water saturation relative to the value reported in an experimental study on a Berea sandstone sample saturated with tap water and liquid CO₂. Further modifications, including explicit modelling of the capillary trapping of the non-wetting phase, are required to improve the accuracy of the model. Full article

CO₂ geosequestration is currently considered to be the most effective and economical method to dispose of artificial greenhouse gases. There are a large number of coal mines that will be scrapped, and some of them are located in deep formations in China. CO₂ storage in abandoned coal mines will be a potential option for greenhouse gas disposal. However, CO₂ trapping in deep coal pillars would induce swelling effects of coal matrix. Adsorption-induced swelling not only modifies the volume and permeability of coal mass, but also causes the basic physical and mechanical properties changing, such as elastic modulus and Poisson ratio. It eventually results in some reduction in pillar strength. Based on the fractional swelling as a function of time and different loading pressure steps, the relationship between volumetric stress and adsorption pressure increment is acquired. Eventually, this paper presents a theory model to analyze the pillar strength reduction after CO₂ adsorption. The model provides a method to quantitatively describe the interrelation of volumetric strain, swelling stress, and mechanical strength reduction after gas adsorption under the condition of step-by-step pressure loading and the non-Langmuir isothermal model. The model might have a significantly important implication for predicting the swelling stress and mechanical behaviors of coal pillars during CO₂ sequestration in abandoned coal mines. Full article

For carbon capture and storage (CCS) to be a truly effective option in our efforts to mitigate climate change, it must be sustainable. That means that CCS must deliver consistent environmental and social benefits which exceed its costs of capital, energy and operation; it must be protective of the environment and human health over the long term; and it must be suitable for deployment on a significant scale. CCS is one of the more expensive and technically challenging carbon emissions abatement options available, and CCS must first and foremost be considered in the context of the other things that can be done to reduce emissions, as a part of an overall optimally efficient, sustainable and economic mitigation plan. This elevates the analysis beyond a simple comparison of the cost per tonne of CO₂ abated—there are inherent tradeoffs with a range of other factors (such as water, NOx, SOx, biodiversity, energy, and human health and safety, among others) which must also be considered if we are to achieve truly sustainable mitigation. The full life-cycle cost of CCS must be considered in the context of the overall social, environmental and economic benefits which it creates, and the costs associated with environmental and social risks it presents. Such analysis reveals that all CCS is not created equal. There is a wide range of technological options available which can be used in a variety of industries and applications—indeed CCS is not applicable to every industry. Stationary fossil-fuel powered energy and large scale petroleum industry operations are two examples of industries which could benefit from CCS. Capturing and geo-sequestering CO₂ entrained in natural gas can be economic and sustainable at relatively low carbon prices, and in many jurisdictions makes financial sense for operators to deploy now, if suitable secure disposal reservoirs are available close by. Retrofitting existing coal-fired power plants, however, is more expensive and technically challenging, and the economic sustainability of post-combustion capture retrofit needs to be compared on a portfolio basis to the relative overall net benefit of CCS on new-build plants, where energy efficiency can be optimised as a first step, and locations can be selected with sequestration sites in mind. Examples from the natural gas processing, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and coal-fired power generation sectors, illustrate that there is currently a wide range of financial costs for CCS, depending on how and where it is applied, but equally, environmental and social benefits of emissions reduction can be considerable. Some CCS applications are far more economic and sustainable than others. CCS must be considered in the context of the other things that a business can do to eliminate emissions, such as far-reaching efforts to improve energy efficiency. Full article