Mechanisms for mechanical trapping of geologically sequestered carbon dioxide
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Rothman_Mechanisms for mechanical.pdf
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Author(s)
Rothman, Daniel H.
Cohen, Yosef
Date Issued
January 2015
Journal
Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Publisher
Royal Society
Citation
Cohen, Y., and D. H. Rothman. “Mechanisms for Mechanical Trapping of Geologically Sequestered Carbon Dioxide.” Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 471, no. 2175 (January 21, 2015): 20140853–20140853.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO[subscript 2]) sequestration in subsurface reservoirs is important for limiting atmospheric CO[subscript 2] concentrations. However, a complete physical picture able to predict the structure developing within the porous medium is lacking. We investigate theoretically reactive transport in the long-time evolution of carbon in the brine–rock environment. As CO[subscript 2] is injected into a brine–rock environment, a carbonate-rich region is created amid brine. Within the carbonate-rich region minerals dissolve and migrate from regions of high-to-low concentration, along with other dissolved carbonate species. This causes mineral precipitation at the interface between the two regions. We argue that precipitation in a small layer reduces diffusivity, and eventually causes mechanical trapping of the CO[subscript 2]. Consequently, only a small fraction of the CO[subscript 2] is converted to solid mineral; the remainder either dissolves in water or is trapped in its original form. We also study the case of a pure CO[subscript 2] bubble surrounded by brine and suggest a mechanism that may lead to a carbonate-encrusted bubble owing to structural diffusion.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Lorenz Center (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2014.0853
