Advanced characterization of mineralisation reactions in formation rocks from the Rio Bonito formation

Abstract

This project aims to integrate experiments and high-end characterization techniques to understand the mineral carbonation reactions that mediate CO2 storage in the Rio Bonito formation. This comprises controlled mineralization experiments and in-depth characterization of mineralization products on a rock formation. For the experiments, samples from prospects and outcrops near the Rio Bonito formation and plugs extracted directly from the potential reservoir will be analyzed. Initial characterizations will be performed using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques aiming to understand the chemical and structural formation of the rocks. The results obtained are the basis for the main experiments, seeking to understand the surface interaction between the rock and fluid using Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) and Surface Force Apparatus (SFA) equipment. This project will deliver two- and three-dimensional representations of rock plugs obtained via X-Ray Computed Tomography (XRCT) by developing a microfluid cell to reproduce reservoir conditions (controlled pressure and temperature). This will allow comparing rocks before and after being exposed to fluids and to follow in time the results from the mineralization process in a controlled environment. Data collected during this research will validate previously established atomistic models, provide input to computational simulations, and help understand the mineralization mechanisms activated during laboratory tests. (AU)