The role of mineral heterogeneity on the hydrogeochemical response of two fractured reservoir rocks in contact with dissolved CO2
Résumé
In this study we compare the hydrogeochemical response of two fractured reservoir rocks (limestone composed of
100 wt.% calcite and sandstone composed of 66 wt.% calcite, 28 wt.% quartz and 6 wt.% microcline) in contact
with CO2-rich sulfate solutions. Flow-through percolation experiments were performed using artificially fractured
limestone and sandstone cores and injecting a CO2-rich sulfate solution under a constant volumetric flow rate
(from 0.2 to 60 mL/h) at P = 150 bar and T = 60 ◦C. Measurements of the pressure difference between the inlet
and the outlet of the samples and of the aqueous chemistry enabled the determination of fracture permeability
changes and net reaction rates. Additionally, X-ray computed microtomography (XCMT) was used to characterize
and localized changes in fracture volume induced by dissolution and precipitation reactions.
In all reacted cores an increase in fracture permeability and in fracture volume was always produced even when
gypsum precipitation happened. The presence of inert silicate grains in sandstone samples favored the occurrence
of largely distributed dissolution structures in contrast to localized dissolution in limestone samples. This
phenomenon promoted greater dissolution and smaller precipitation in sandstone than in limestone experiments.
As a result, in sandstone reservoirs, the larger increase in fracture volume as well as the more extended distribution
of the created volume would favor the CO2 storage capacity. The different distribution of created volume between
limestone and sandstone experiments led to a different variation in fracture permeability. The progressive stepped
permeability increase for sandstone would be preferred to the sharp permeability increase for limestone to
minimize risks related to CO2 injection, favor capillary trapping and reduce energetic storage costs.
2D reactive transport simulations that reproduce the variation in aqueous chemistry and the fracture geometry
(dissolution pattern) were performed using CrunchFlow. The calcite reactive surface area had to be diminished
with respect to the geometric surface area in order to account for the transport control of the calcite dissolution
reaction at pH < 5. The fitted reactive surface area was higher under faster flow conditions, reflecting a decrease in
transport control and a more distributed reaction in sandstone compared to limestone.