Geologic CO2 Sequestration (GCS) and Its Potential Impacts on the Environment

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2022) | Viewed by 13643

Special Issue Editors

Energy and Geoscience Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA
Interests: subsurface reactive transport; geologic carbon dioxide sequestration; risk assessment; underground sources of drinking water

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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Interests: reactive transport modeling; geologic carbon dioxide sequestration; natural gas hydrate accumulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Earth System Sciences, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
Interests: geologic carbon dioxide sequestration; numerical modeling; coupled wellbore-reservoir flow; surrogate modeling; optimization; uncertainty; sensitivity analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration (GCS) is a promising way to mitigate CO2 emissions from centralized sources (e.g., power plants and fertilization plants). Suitable GCS sites include deep saline formations, depleted/active hydrocarbon reservoirs, coal seams, and marine sediments. Once CO2 is injected into the deep subsurface, it changes the subsurface environment by CO2–water–rock interactions. Reservoir mineralogy, hydrogeologic properties (e.g., porosity and permeability), and geomechanics can be changed. The migration of injected CO2 can also interact with wells and fractures, causing potential leaks to underground sources of drinking water (USDWs) and the surface. The objective of this Special Issue is to provide a forum for research on GCS and its potential environmental impacts with the most up-to-date methods (e.g., advanced imaging techniques, reduced-order models, and machine-learning techniques), and this research topic is essential for the long-term reliability and security of GCS applications. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: (1) CO2 migration and CO2 interactions with water, rock, and oil; (2) thermal–hydrogeological–mechanical–chemical–biological (THMCB) coupling processes; (3) potential leakage through caprocks, wells, and/or fractures/faults; (4) potential impacts on overlying shallow groundwater aquifers and the surface; (5) risk/uncertainty assessment and management; and (6) numerical modeling and optimization.

Dr. Ting Xiao
Dr. Hailong Tian
Dr. Jize Piao
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration
  • multiphase flow
  • CO2-water-rock-oil interactions
  • thermal-hydrogeological-mechanical-chemical-biological (THMCB) coupling processes
  • wellbore-reservoir systems
  • leakage pathways
  • underground sources of drinking water (USDW)
  • risk assessment and management
  • optimization analysis

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3178 KiB  
Article
Improvement of Carbon Dioxide Sequestration of Anorthite through Bacterial: Release of Calcium and Destruction of Crystal Structure
by Chengbing Chang, Lei Zhang, Jianying Guo, Quanbao Wen and Shengyu Liu
Minerals 2023, 13(3), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030367 - 6 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1926
Abstract
Carbon dioxide sequestration by minerals containing calcium or magnesium is a safe and stable approach to reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. In this work, the bioleaching method was applied to pretreat the anorthite, aiming to improve the carbonation conversion [...] Read more.
Carbon dioxide sequestration by minerals containing calcium or magnesium is a safe and stable approach to reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. In this work, the bioleaching method was applied to pretreat the anorthite, aiming to improve the carbonation conversion rate of anorthite with low energy consumption, low cost, and no pollution. A bacteria named Herbaspirillum huttiense W-01 was found and selected as the strain. The effects of the bacterial strain on the Ca2+ leaching behavior of anorthite and the corresponding carbonation conversion rate were investigated. Then, the strengthening mechanism of the bacteria was clarified from the Ca2+ leaching rate and the crystal structure of anorthite. The bioleaching results showed that after 9 days of treatment, the pH value of the fermentation solution decreased to 6.01 from 7.20, and the concentration of Ca2+ was 8.1 mmol/L with a 4.65% leaching rate, which was about twice that of sterile medium. During the pretreatment period of one to 9 days, the carbonation conversion rate of different systems (A1: anorthite and bacteria, B1: anorthite and medium, C1: anorthite and distilled water, D1: anorthite and bacteria, cleaning step to remove the medium components) increased with time. After 9 days, the carbonation conversion rate of system D1 reached 18.74%, which was 3.46% higher than that of system C1, suggesting a better carbon sequestration effect of anorthite after the bioleaching pretreatment. In addition, a bioleaching residue with weakened thermal stability and decreased crystallinity was formed after the microbial pretreatment. Furthermore, it can be seen that the surface of the bioleaching residue was rough and showed obvious corrosion at the edges, and the specific surface area increased from 0.5187 m2/g to 0.9883 m2/g. It is precisely because of the changes in the crystal structure of anorthite caused by bioleaching, especially in mineralogy and morphology, that the carbonation activity of anorthite was enhanced. This research may provide a reference for the enhancement of carbon dioxide mineralization by basic or ultrabasic rocks through microbial methods. Full article
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18 pages, 2446 KiB  
Article
Effects of Charged Solute-Solvent Interaction on Reservoir Temperature during Subsurface CO2 Injection
by Christopher Paolini
Minerals 2022, 12(6), 752; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12060752 - 14 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1653
Abstract
A short-term side-effect of CO2 injection is a developing low-pH front that forms ahead of the bulk water injectant, due to differences in solute diffusivity. Observations of downhole well temperature show a reduction in aqueous-phase temperature with the arrival of a low-pH [...] Read more.
A short-term side-effect of CO2 injection is a developing low-pH front that forms ahead of the bulk water injectant, due to differences in solute diffusivity. Observations of downhole well temperature show a reduction in aqueous-phase temperature with the arrival of a low-pH front, followed by a gradual rise in temperature upon the arrival of a high concentration of bicarbonate ion. In this work, we model aqueous-phase transient heat advection and diffusion, with the volumetric energy generation rate computed from solute-solvent interaction using the Helgeson–Kirkham–Flowers (HKF) model, which is based on the Born Solvation model, for computing specific molar heat capacity and the enthalpy of charged electrolytes. A computed injectant water temperature profile is shown to agree with the actual bottom hole sampled temperature acquired from sensors. The modeling of aqueous-phase temperature during subsurface injection simulation is important for the accurate modeling of mineral dissolution and precipitation because forward dissolution rates are governed by a temperature-dependent Arrhenius model. Full article
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23 pages, 9632 KiB  
Article
Study on the Alteration of Pore Parameters of Shale with Different Natural Fractures under Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Seepage
by Lei Tao, Jian Han, Yanjun Feng and John D. McLennan
Minerals 2022, 12(6), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12060660 - 24 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2178
Abstract
Supercritical CO2 can reduce formation fracture pressure, form more complex fractures in the near-well zone, and replace methane to complete carbon sequestration, which is an important direction for the efficient development of deep shale gas with carbon sequestration. In this paper, based [...] Read more.
Supercritical CO2 can reduce formation fracture pressure, form more complex fractures in the near-well zone, and replace methane to complete carbon sequestration, which is an important direction for the efficient development of deep shale gas with carbon sequestration. In this paper, based on the scCO2 fracturing field test parameters and the characteristics of common shale calcite filled natural fractures, we simulated the porosity change in shale with three kinds of fractures (no fracture, named NF; axial natural fracture, named AF; and transversal natural fracture, named TF) under scCO2 seepage, and carried out the experimental verification of shale under supercritical CO2 seepage. It was found that: (1) At the same pressure, when the temperature is greater than the critical temperature, the shale porosity of three kinds of fractures gradually increases with the injection of CO2, and the higher the temperature, the more obvious the increase in porosity. (2) At the same temperature and different pressures, the effect of pressure change on the porosity of shale specimens was more obvious than that of temperature. (3) Multi-field coupling experiments of shale under supercritical CO2 seepage revealed that the porosity of all three shale specimens at the same temperature and pressure increased after CO2 injection, and the relative increase in shale porosity measured experimentally was basically consistent with the numerical simulation results. This paper reveals the mechanism of the effect of different temperatures and pressures of scCO2 and different natural fractures on the change in shale porosity, which can be used to optimize the CO2 injection in supercritical CO2 fracturing and carbon sequestration. Full article
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17 pages, 3772 KiB  
Article
Geologic Carbon Storage of Anthropogenic CO2 under the Colorado Plateau in Emery County, Utah
by Nathan Moodie, Wei Jia, Richard Middleton, Sean Yaw, Si-Yong Lee, Ting Xiao, David Wheatley, Peter Steele, Rich Esser and Brian McPherson
Minerals 2022, 12(4), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12040398 - 24 Mar 2022
Viewed by 2681
Abstract
Geologic Carbon Storage (GCS) is a promising technology for storing large volumes of anthropogenic CO2 effectively and permanently. Numerical simulations are an integral part of site selection and characterization for any potential GCS site. As part of the DOE-funded CarbonSAFE Rocky Mountains [...] Read more.
Geologic Carbon Storage (GCS) is a promising technology for storing large volumes of anthropogenic CO2 effectively and permanently. Numerical simulations are an integral part of site selection and characterization for any potential GCS site. As part of the DOE-funded CarbonSAFE Rocky Mountains Phase I project, a regional GCS analysis was undertaken to understand the efficacy of storing CO2 emissions from the power generation and heavy industry in central Utah’s favorable geology. In this study, the injection of CO2 for geologic storage was simulated in the Navajo Sandstone Formation in Emery County, Utah. Carbon dioxide was sourced from regional power generation stations and heavy industries throughout Utah, with an emphasis on emissions reduction at the Hunter Power Plant near Castle Dale, Utah. A simulation grid was extracted from the project’s geological model encompassing an area around Price, Huntington, and Castle Dale in central Utah. The Navajo Sandstone Member of the Glen Canyon Group was the target of CO2 injection with the overlying Carmel formation providing the primary seal. A suite of simulations was performed assessing the viability of this area for permanent CO2 storage. Results indicate that the area can not only store 46 million metric tons of anthropogenic CO2, meeting the project goals, but this area has the capacity to securely store at least 1.3 billion tons of CO2, suggesting the injection site and surrounding geology are suitable locations for commercial-scale GCS. Full article
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13 pages, 2292 KiB  
Article
Thermal Stability of Calcium Oxalates from CO2 Sequestration for Storage Purposes: An In-Situ HT-XRPD and TGA Combined Study
by Nadia Curetti, Linda Pastero, Davide Bernasconi, Andrea Cotellucci, Ingrid Corazzari, Maurizio Archetti and Alessandro Pavese
Minerals 2022, 12(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12010053 - 30 Dec 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3950
Abstract
Calcium oxalates are naturally occurring biominerals and can be found as a byproduct of some industrial processes. Recently, a new and green method for carbon capture and sequestration in stable calcium oxalate from oxalic acid produced by carbon dioxide reduction was proposed. The [...] Read more.
Calcium oxalates are naturally occurring biominerals and can be found as a byproduct of some industrial processes. Recently, a new and green method for carbon capture and sequestration in stable calcium oxalate from oxalic acid produced by carbon dioxide reduction was proposed. The reaction resulted in high-quality weddellite crystals. Assessing the stability of these weddellite crystals is crucial to forecast their reuse as solid-state reservoir of pure CO2 and CaO in a circular economy perspective or, eventually, their disposal. The thermal decomposition of weddellite obtained from the new method of carbon capture and storage was studied by coupling in-situ high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis, in order to evaluate the dehydration, decarbonation, and the possible production of unwanted volatile species during heating. At low temperature (119–255 °C), structural water release was superimposed to an early CO2 feeble evolution, resulting in a water-carbon dioxide mixture that should be separated for reuse. Furthermore, the storage temperature limit must be considered bearing in mind this CO2 release low-temperature event. In the range 390–550 °C, a two-component mixture of carbon monoxide and dioxide is evolved, requiring oxidation of the former or gas separation to reuse pure gases. Finally, the last decarbonation reaction produced pure CO2 starting from 550 °C. Full article
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