A Streamlined Workflow From Experimental Analyses to Dynamic Geochemical Modelling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed M. S. Elgendy ◽  
Simone Ricci ◽  
Elena I. Cojocariu ◽  
Claudio Geloni

Abstract Dynamic-geochemical model is a powerful instrument to evaluate the geochemical effects on CO2storage capacity, injectivity and long-term containment. The study objective is to apply an integrated multi-step workflow to a carbon capture and storage (CCS) candidate field (offshore), namely hereinafter H field. From experimental analyses, a comprehensive real data-tailored reactive transport model (RTM) has been built to capture the dynamics and the geochemical phenomena (e.g., water vaporization, CO2solubility, mineral alteration) occurring during and after the CO2injection in sedimentary formations. The proposed integrated workflow couples lab activities and numerical simulations and it is developed according to the following steps: Mineralogical-chemical characterization (XRD, XRF and SEM-EDX experimental techniques) of field core samples; Data elaboration and integration to define the conceptual geochemical model; Synthetic brine reconstruction by means of 0D geochemical models; Numerical geochemical modelling at different complexity levels. Field rocks chosen for CO2injection have been experimentally characterized, showing a high content of Fe in clayey, micaceous and carbonate mineralogical phases. New-defined, site-specific minerals have been characterized, starting from real XRD, XRF and SEM-EDX data and by calculation of their thermochemical parameters with a proprietary procedure. They are used to reconstruct synthetic formation water chemical composition (at equilibrium with both rock mineralogy and gas phase), subsequently used in RTM. CO2injection is simulated using 2D radial reactive transport model(s) built in a commercial compositional reservoir simulator. The simulations follow a step-increase in the complexity of the model by adding CO2solubility, water vaporization and geochemical reactions. Geochemical processes impact on CO2storage capacity and injectivity is quantitatively analyzed. The results show that neglecting the CO2solubility in formation water may underestimate the max CO2storage capacity in H field by around 1%, maintaining the same pressure build-up profile. Sensitivities on the impact of formation water salinity on the CO2solubility are presented. In a one thousand years’ time-scale, changes in reservoir porosity due to mineral alteration, triggered by CO2-brine-rock interactions, seem to be minimal in the near wellbore and far field. However, it has been seen that water vaporization with the associated halite precipitation inclusion in the simulation models is recommended, especially at high-level of formation brine salinity, for a reliable evaluation of CO2injectivity related risks. The proposed workflow provides a new perspective in geochemical application for CCS studies, which relies on novel labs techniques (analyses automation), data digitalization, unification and integration with a direct connection to the numerical models. The presented procedure can be followed to assess the geochemical short-and long-term risks in carbon storage projects.

2003 ◽  
Vol 807 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Domènech ◽  
D. Arcos ◽  
J. Bruno ◽  
O. Karnland ◽  
A. Muurinen

ABSTRACTA geochemical modelling of one of the experimental parcels of the LOT experiment (Äspö, Sweden) is presented. The model consists on a 2D reactive transport model of a perpendicular section of the experimental borehole with a stationary temperature gradient ranging from 130 to 15°C. The results of the model show that temperature has an important effect on the geochemical evolution of the system. Due to the temperature effect, anhydrite replaces gypsum and hematite precipitates instead of Fe(OH)3(am). Calcite and siderite dissolve in the warmer part of bentonite; whereas a major replacement of Na by Ca in the bentonite takes place close to the bentonite-granite boundary. pH is buffered by the equilibrium with calcite, although the effect of temperature leads to a decrease in pH.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 9314
Author(s):  
Svenja Steding ◽  
Thomas Kempka ◽  
Michael Kühn

Potash seams are a valuable resource containing several economically interesting, but also highly soluble minerals. In the presence of water, uncontrolled leaching can occur, endangering subsurface mining operations. In the present study, the influence of insoluble inclusions and intersecting layers on leaching zone evolution was examined by means of a reactive transport model. For that purpose, a scenario analysis was carried out, considering different rock distributions within a carnallite-bearing potash seam. The results show that reaction-dominated systems are not affected by heterogeneities at all, whereas transport-dominated systems exhibit a faster advance in homogeneous rock compositions. In return, the ratio of permeated rock in vertical direction is higher in heterogeneous systems. Literature data indicate that most natural potash systems are transport-dominated. Accordingly, insoluble inclusions and intersecting layers can usually be seen as beneficial with regard to reducing hazard potential as long as the mechanical stability of leaching zones is maintained. Thereby, the distribution of insoluble areas is of minor impact unless an inclined, intersecting layer occurs that accelerates leaching zone growth in one direction. Moreover, it is found that the saturation dependency of dissolution rates increases the growth rate in the long term, and therefore must be considered in risk assessments.


Geofluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Huixing Zhu ◽  
Tianfu Xu ◽  
Hailong Tian ◽  
Guanhong Feng ◽  
Zhijie Yang ◽  
...  

To further understand the interactions of CO2-brine-rock at geological time scales, in this study, a 1D reactive transport model of CO2 intrusion into sandstone of the Longtan Formation (P2l) in the Huangqiao area, China, was constructed based on site-specific data. The simulation time is consistent with the retention time of CO2 in the Longtan sandstone Formation and is set to 20 Ma. The reactive transport model is calibrated and revised using the measured data for sandstone samples from Well X3 (i.e., the natural analogue). By comparing the simulation results with measured data for the natural analogue, the long-term geochemical reactions are investigated. The simulation results indicate that the brine-rock interactions induced by CO2 can be roughly divided into two stages. First, susceptible minerals (e.g., chlorite, ankerite, calcite, and feldspar minerals) dissolve rapidly under acidic conditions formed by the dissolution of CO2. The precipitation of siderite is facilitated by the dissolution of ankerite and chlorite. Smectite-Ca and dawsonite precipitate due to the dissolution of anorthite and albite, respectively. Dawsonite begins to convert into smectite-Na when albite is completely dissolved. As the reactions continue, intermediate products (i.e., illite, smectite-Na, and smectite-Ca) generated in the first stage become the reactants and subsequently react with CO2 and brine. These three clay minerals are not stable under acidic conditions and transform into kaolinite and paragenetic quartz in the later stage of reaction. Comparing the simulation results of the Base Case with the measured data for the natural analogue and inspired by previous studies, the scour of kaolinite is supposed to have occurred in this region and is considered in the revised model by introducing a coefficient of the scour of kaolinite (i.e., Case 2). The simulation results of Case 2 fit well with the measured data on mineral assemblage, and the trend of the sandstone porosity growth caused by the CO2-brine-rock reaction is captured by our simulation results. The combination of numerical simulation and natural analogue study indicates that the joint effects of long-term CO2-brine-rock reactions and scour of kaolinite increase the pore space of the host rock and result in an increase in quartz content in the sandstone.


2008 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. S285-S294 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Yamaguchi ◽  
F. Yamada ◽  
K. Negishi ◽  
S. Hoshino ◽  
M. Mukai ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document