Mineral Reaction Kinetics During CO2 Sequestration into Paleozoic Metamorphic Rocks

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration into geological formations is one of the most reliable methods for mitigating CO2 emissions. Geothermal reservoirs are excellent candidates for CO2 trapping due to considerable fracture pore volume, which provides safe and permanent storage. The stability of the target reservoir rock and caprock is a critical topic during long-term CO2 sequestration. This study examines the geochemical changes resulting from reactions between geothermal reservoir rock and CO2-saturated brine. The ultimate aim is to understand the efficiency of CO2 sequestration in a metamorphic geothermal reservoir regarding its geochemical impact. The study involves batch experiments on core samples taken from depths of 1900 m and 3000 m in the Kızıldere geothermal reservoir in western Turkey. We exposed crushed core samples to CO2-saturated geothermal brine at a temperature of 95 °C and a pressure of 10 bar for 21 days. Experimental changes in the concentrations of major elements (Mg2+, Ca2+, Al3+, Fe2+, SiO2, and Cl-) were simulated using PHREEQC software. Kinetic rates and activation energy were utilized as tuning parameters to align simulation outcomes with experimental observations. The behavior of Mg2+ and Ca2+ exhibited an increasing trend, while SiO2, Al3+, and Fe2+ demonstrated a decreasing trend. Consequently, the interaction between CO2-saturated brine and reservoir rock resulted in the precipitation of K-feldspar and kaolinite minerals, whereas other minerals, such as biotite, quartz, magnesite, and siderite, exhibited slight dissolution. The mineral assemblage remained consistent, while the abundance of the minerals exhibited slight variations. The study indicates that a high concentration of cations may facilitate the trapping of CO2 within metamorphic rocks. Furthermore, solubility trapping was determined to be more significant than mineral trapping in the batch experiments.

Keywords

• Carbon dioxide sequestration
• mineral alteration
• geothermal energy

Paleozoyik Yaşlı Metamorfik Kayaçlara CO2 Enjeksiyonu Sırasında Mineral Tepkime Kinetiği

Abstract

Jeolojik formasyonlara karbondioksit (CO2) enjeksiyonu, CO2 emisyonlarını azaltmak için en güvenilir yöntemlerden biridir. Jeotermal rezervuarlar, geniş kırık-gözenek hacimleri sayesinde CO2 tutumu için güvenli ve kalıcı depolama fırsatları sunan mükemmel adaylardır. Hedef rezervuar kayacı ve örtü kayacın uzun dönem CO2 enjeksiyonu süresince kararlılığı ise kritik bir konudur. Bu çalışma, jeotermal rezervuar kayacı ile CO2 doygunluğundaki akışkan arasındaki reaksiyonlar sonucu oluşan jeokimyasal değişimleri incelemektedir. Nihai amaç, metamorfik bir jeotermal rezervuarda CO2 tutumunun jeokimyasal etkiler açısından etkinliğini ortaya koymaktır. Çalışma kapsamında, Türkiye’nin Batısında yer alan Kızıldere jeotermal rezervuarında 1900 m ve 3000 m derinliklerden alınan karot numuneleriyle kesikli (batch) deneyler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Ufaltılmış karot örnekleri, 95 °C sıcaklık ve 10 bar basınçta CO2 doygunluğundaki jeotermal akışkana 21 gün süreyle maruz bırakılmıştır. Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Al³⁺, Fe²⁺, SiO2 ve Cl⁻ gibi temel element konsantrasyonlarındaki deneysel değişimler PHREEQC yazılımı kullanılarak modellenmiştir. Simülasyon çıktılarının deneysel gözlemlerle uyumlu olması için kinetik hızlar ve aktivasyon enerjisi ayar parametreleri olarak kullanılmıştır. Mg²⁺ ve Ca²⁺ konsantrasyonları artış eğilimi gösterirken; SiO2, Al³⁺ ve Fe²⁺ azalma eğilimi göstermiştir. Bu durum, CO2 doygun akışkan ile rezervuar kayacı arasındaki etkileşim sonucunda K-feldispat ve kaolinit minerallerinin çökelmesine yol açmış; biyotit, kuvars, magnezit ve siderit gibi diğer minerallerde ise hafif çözünme meydana gelmiştir. Mineral topluluğu genel olarak sabit kalmış, ancak minerallerin bollukları küçük değişiklikler göstermiştir. Çalışma, yüksek katyon konsantrasyonlarının metamorfik kayaçlar içerisinde CO2 tutumunu kolaylaştırabileceğini ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca, gerçekleştirilen kesikli deneylerinde çözelti fazında CO2 tutulumu mineral tutulumuna kıyasla daha baskın olduğu belirlenmiştir.

Keywords

• Karbondioksit tutulumu
• mineral alterasyonu
• jeotermal enerji

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