Evolution of the microstructural and chemical properties of the CO2-aged Banco Verde sandstone

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4. Evolution of the microstructural and chemical properties of the CO2-aged Banco Verde sandstone

With the exponential increase in the World's mean temperature, produced due to the worrying rise in CO2 emissions, more and more international entities are looking for options to mitigate this natural phenomenon. In this context, researchers have proposed storing this gas in the subsoil. Among the different types of CO2 underground storage, a commonly mentioned alternative is the use of depleted oil and gas reservoirs. These formations are characterized by being composed of sedimentary porous reservoir rocks, covered by a caprock layer that stands out due to its low permeability. In Argentina, three main basins are considered as possible CO2 storages, being the Salamanca Formation from the Golfo San Jorge Basin the case study of this article. This formation is composed of three seal layers (Lignitífero, Fragmentosa, and Banco Negro) alternated with two reservoir rocks (Glauconítico and Banco Verde). It is of particular interest the study of the Banco Verde layer, as it is a depleted oil and gas reservoir that seems to gather the necessary properties to be used as a permanent underground CO2 storage. In previous research, laboratory mechanical tests were performed on pristine and CO2-aged sandstone samples, showing a notable variation in their properties after CO2 exposure. Aiming for a better understanding of this property evolution, microstructural and chemical analysis such as X-ray diffraction, and Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry, were performed. The observed modifications in the behaviour of the reservoir rock seem to be consequent with the microstructural and chemical evolution produced.

28th European Young Geotechnical Engineers Conference (EYGEC2024)

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