Rock acoustics of CO2 storage in basalt.

We simulate variations in the P- and S-wave velocities due to CO₂ injection in basalt, caused by water replacement and mineralization in the form of carbonate cements. Carbonization can be monitored with seismic data on the basis of changes in velocity. We consider basalts composed of (Fe, Ca and Mg) minerals mainly, and the pore space is assumed to be initially saturated with water. The mineralization is based on a model that estimates the volume of precipitated cement and resulting porosity loss, and the velocities as a function of injection time are calculated with a patchy cement model. In the example, there are two stages: 1 week of CO₂ injection and 29 weeks of frame cementation. After 1 week, water has been replaced by CO₂, where density and P-wave velocity decrease, and cementation implies an increase in bulk density, P-wave velocity, whereas porosity and surface area are reduced. To our knowledge there are no models relating the effects of carbon mineralization on seismic properties. The present model can be applied to other rocks, where CO₂ injection induces mineralization and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]