CO2 Leakage Prevention by Introducing Engineered Nanoparticles to the In-situ Brine.

Abstract: Introducing engineered nanoparticles into an aquifer or reservoir can potentially increase the storage efficiency and mitigate the risk of leakage of stored CO₂. We have measured flow pattern and pressure drop during core floods in which high pressure liquid CO₂ or a CO₂ analogue fluid displaces an aqueous suspension of nanoparticles. The displacement front is more spatially uniform and travels more slowly compared to a control displacement with no in- situ nanoparticles. Pressure measurements are consistent with generation of a viscous phase such as an emulsion during the displacement. These observations suggest that a nanoparticle stabilized emulsion is formed during the displacement which acts to suppress the viscous instability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]