Changes in reservoir properties from injection of supercritical CO2 into coal seams - A laboratory study

• Published in: International Journal of Coal Geology
• Main Authors: Massarotto, P., Golding, S. D., Bae, J. S., Iyer, R., Rudolph, V.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Adsorption; CO; Coal; Mineral matter; Permeability; Porosity; Reservoir properties; 1905 Economic Geology; 1907 Geology; 1913 Stratigraphy; 2103 Fuel Technology; Carbonic acid
• Online Access: https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:712954

Two Australian Permian coals of similar rank but different texture, one predominantly dull and the other predominantly bright, were investigated in laboratory experiments to assess changes in reservoir properties following exposure to supercritical CO (SCCO) and water. Both powdered coal (0.180-0.220mm) and small cubes (15mm to a side) were tested in a high-pressure (HP) batch reactor for up to 120h. Two reaction fluids were used, each on separate sister coal samples: de-ionised water (DHO) only, and a SCCO and DHO mixture. Properties were measured before and after treatment with: high-pressure CO adsorption isotherms (storage capacity); helium pycnometry, mercury porosimetry and low-pressure (LP) CO adsorption (density, porosity and PSD effects); leachate chemical analysis for dissolved mineral matter; and water and CO permeabilities at in situ conditions during core flood experiments on an 80mm cube.Micro and meso porosities for both coals showed significant increases after reactions with the SCCO and DHO mixture. The macroporosity decreased significantly for the dull coal, but increased marginally for the bright coal. Total accessible porosity for dull coal showed virtually no change (0.5%); the bright coal exhibited 3.4% increase from a pre-treatment total porosity of 11.0%. On powdered samples reacted with the mixture, 80%+ increases in internal surface areas, measured using LP CO sorption at 0°C, were noted for both coals. The HP CO excess adsorption isotherms on both coals increased after treatment, varying with pressure level, coal type and coal texture. The core flood tests indicated the permeability to CO, after a waterflood stage, increased significantly. The second stage waterflood exhibited an over 600% increase on the pre-CO first stage waterflood permeability. These combined results indicate that mineral matter in Permian coals is dissolved and mobilized by the carbonic acid formed during CO dissolution in water, leading to increased porosity, permeability and HP CO excess adsorption.