Carbonate cements in Miller field of the UK North Sea: a natural analog for mineral trapping in CO2 geological storage.

Lu, J., Wilkinson, M., Haszeldine, R.S. and Boyce, A.J. (2011) Carbonate cements in Miller field of the UK North Sea: a natural analog for mineral trapping in CO2 geological storage. Environmental Earth Sciences, 62(3), pp. 507-517. (doi: 10.1007/s12665-010-0543-1)

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Abstract

Miller field of the North Sea has had high concentrations of natural CO<sub>2</sub> for ~70 Ma. It is an ideal analog for the long-term fate of CO<sub>2</sub> during engineered storage, particularly for formation of carbonate minerals that permanently lock up CO<sub>2</sub> in solid form. The Brae Formation reservoir sandstone contains an unusually high quantity of calcite concretions; however, C and O stable isotopic signatures suggest that these are not related to the present-day CO<sub>2</sub> charge. Margins of the concretions are corroded, probably because of reduced pH due to CO<sub>2</sub> influx. Dispersed calcite cements are also present, some of which postdate the CO<sub>2</sub> charge and, therefore, are the products of mineral trapping. It is calculated that only a minority of the reservoired CO<sub>2</sub> in Miller (6–24%) has been sequestrated in carbonates, even after 70 Ma of CO<sub>2</sub> emplacement. Most of the CO<sub>2</sub> accumulation is dissolved in pore fluids. Therefore, in a reservoir similar to the Brae Formation, engineered CO<sub>2</sub> storage must rely on physical retention mechanisms because mineral trapping is both incomplete and slow.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Boyce, Professor Adrian
Authors: Lu, J., Wilkinson, M., Haszeldine, R.S., and Boyce, A.J.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
Journal Name:Environmental Earth Sciences
Publisher:Springer-Verlag
ISSN:1866-6280
ISSN (Online):1866-6299

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