CARBON DIOXIDE SEQUESTRATION IN SALT MINIBASINS USING CARBONATED AQUEOUS FLUIDS

1 . A method comprising:

providing a carbonated aqueous fluid containing carbon dioxide dissolved in a first aqueous fluid; and

introducing the carbonated aqueous fluid into a salt minibasin containing a second aqueous fluid having a density that is less than that of the carbonated aqueous fluid, the salt minibasin having a salt barrier defining one or more boundaries thereof;

wherein the second aqueous fluid is displaced upward as the carbonated aqueous fluid is being introduced to the salt minibasin to form a barrier layer overlaying the carbonated aqueous fluid, and the barrier layer and the salt barrier maintain the carbonated aqueous fluid within the salt minibasin.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt minibasin is an open salt minibasin having a concave shape.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second aqueous fluid within the salt minibasin comprises a formation water that is native to the salt minibasin.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the formation water comprises a brine.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbonated aqueous fluid comprises a carbonated brine or a carbonated aqueous salt solution.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

withdrawing a portion of the second aqueous fluid from the salt minibasin prior to or concurrently with introducing the carbonated aqueous fluid to the salt minibasin.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

combining at least some of the second aqueous fluid withdrawn from the salt minibasin with carbon dioxide to form at least a portion of the carbonated aqueous fluid.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

combining the second aqueous fluid withdrawn from the salt minibasin with another aqueous fluid having a density higher than that of the second aqueous fluid to form a combined aqueous fluid; and

using the combined aqueous fluid as the first aqueous fluid to form the carbonated aqueous fluid.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the carbonated aqueous fluid comprises dissolving carbon dioxide in the first aqueous fluid at a surface facility in fluid communication with an injection well penetrating the salt minibasin.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the carbonated aqueous fluid comprises dissolving carbon dioxide in the first aqueous fluid as the carbon dioxide and the first aqueous fluid are being introduced to the salt minibasin via an injection well.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt minibasin previously produced a hydrocarbon resource but is no longer producing the hydrocarbon resource when the carbonated aqueous fluid is introduced thereto.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt minibasin is substantially devoid of a producible hydrocarbon resource.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbonated aqueous fluid is introduced adjacent to a bottom surface of the salt minibasin.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining or estimating the density of the second aqueous fluid in the salt minibasin;

selecting the first aqueous fluid such that, once combined with carbon dioxide to form the carbonated aqueous fluid, the carbonated aqueous fluid has a density greater than that of the second aqueous fluid in the salt minibasin; and

forming the carbonated aqueous fluid for introduction into the salt minibasin.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbonated aqueous fluid further comprises a densifying additive.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the densifying additive comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of barite, hematite, calcium carbonate, siderite, a gel, a plurality of fines, and any combination thereof.

17 . A method comprising:

providing a carbonated aqueous fluid containing carbon dioxide dissolved in a first aqueous fluid, the carbonated aqueous fluid comprising a carbonated brine or a carbonated aqueous salt solution; and

introducing the carbonated aqueous fluid into an open salt minibasin having a concave shape and a salt barrier defining one or more boundaries of the open salt minibasin, the open salt minibasin containing a formation water that is native to the open salt minibasin and has a density that is less than that of the carbonated aqueous fluid;

wherein the formation water is displaced upward as the carbonated aqueous fluid is being introduced to the open salt minibasin to form a barrier layer overlaying the carbonated aqueous fluid, and the barrier layer and the salt barrier maintain the carbonated aqueous fluid within the open salt minibasin.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

withdrawing a portion of the formation water from the open salt minibasin prior to or concurrently with introducing the carbonated aqueous fluid to open the salt minibasin.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

combining at least some of the formation water withdrawn from the open salt minibasin with carbon dioxide to form at least a portion of the carbonated aqueous fluid; and

optionally, combining the formation water with another aqueous fluid having a higher density than that of the formation water to form a combined aqueous fluid, and using the combined aqueous fluid as the first aqueous fluid to form the carbonated aqueous fluid.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the formation water comprises a brine and the carbonated aqueous fluid comprises a carbonated brine.

21 . A method comprising:

providing a carbonated aqueous fluid containing carbon dioxide dissolved in a first aqueous fluid;

introducing the carbonated aqueous fluid into a salt minibasin having a salt barrier defining one or more boundaries thereof; and

introducing a second aqueous fluid into the salt minibasin before or after the carbonated aqueous fluid, the second aqueous fluid having a density lower than that of the carbonated aqueous fluid, and the second aqueous fluid forming a barrier layer overlaying the carbonated aqueous fluid in the salt minibasin;

wherein the barrier layer and the salt barrier maintain the carbonated aqueous fluid within the salt minibasin.