An experimental investigation of coupled chemico-mineralogical and mechanical changes in varyingly-cemented sandstones upon CO2 injection in deep saline aquifer environments

Abstract

Although CO2 storage in deep saline aquifers is now accepted as a potential option for atmospheric CO2 mitigation, the chemico-mineralogical property alterations in the aquifer formation associated with CO2/brine/rock mineral interactions, the corresponding influence on formation hydro-mechanical properties and the effect of rock mineral structure, are not yet fully understood. This study was therefore conducted to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the effect of long-term CO2 exposure on the chemico-mineralogical structure and corresponding strength characteristics of saline aquifer rock formations using silicate cement (SS) and carbonate cement (CS) Hawkesbury sandstone samples collec..