Permeability, porosity, and mineral surface area changes in basalt cores induced by reactive transport of CO2‐rich brine. Issue 3 (5th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luhmann, Andrew J.; Tutolo, Benjamin M.; Bagley, Brian C.; Mildner, David F. R.; Seyfried, William E.; Saar, Martin O.
• Is Part Of: Water resources research. Volume 53:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 1908
• Page End: 1927
• Publication Date: 2017-03-05
• Subjects: permeability -- porosity -- surface area -- reactive transport -- (ultra) small‐angle neutron scattering ((U)SANS) -- X‐ray computed tomography (XRCT); Hydrology -- Periodicals; 333.91
• DOI: 10.1002/2016WR019216
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1397

Abstract

Abstract: Four reactive flow‐through laboratory experiments (two each at 0.1 mL/min and 0.01 mL/min flow rates) at 150°C and 150 bar (15 MPa) are conducted on intact basalt cores to assess changes in porosity, permeability, and surface area caused by CO2 ‐rich fluid‐rock interaction. Permeability decreases slightly during the lower flow rate experiments and increases during the higher flow rate experiments. At the higher flow rate, core permeability increases by more than one order of magnitude in one experiment and less than a factor of two in the other due to differences in preexisting flow path structure. X‐ray computed tomography (XRCT) scans of pre‐ and post‐experiment cores identify both mineral dissolution and secondary mineralization, with a net decrease in XRCT porosity of ∼0.7%–0.8% for the larger pores in all four cores. (Ultra) small‐angle neutron scattering ((U)SANS) data sets indicate an increase in both (U)SANS porosity and specific surface area (SSA) over the ∼1 nm to 10 µm scale range in post‐experiment basalt samples, with differences due to flow rate and reaction time. Net porosity increases from summing porosity changes from XRCT and (U)SANS analyses are consistent with core mass decreases. (U)SANS data suggest an overall preservation of the pore structure with no change in mineral surface roughness from reaction, and the pore structure is unique in comparison to previously published basalt analyses. Together, these data sets illustrate changes in physical parameters that arise due to fluid‐basalt interaction in relatively low pH environments with elevated CO2 concentration, with significant implications for flow, transport, and reaction through geologic formations. Key Points: Permeability changes from reaction depend on flow rate and preexisting pore structure Net porosity increases from (U)SANS (1 nm to 10 µm) porosity increases and XRCT (>25 µm) porosity decreases agree with core mass decreases The pore structure of pores ≤10 µm is preserved during alteration and unique in relation to previous basalt analyses