IP Library Granted Patent US 12,704,045
Granted Patent B2
US 12,704,045 · App. 18/409,658 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Carbon dioxide sequestration in encapsulated salt minibasins

Inventors: Markus Albertz (The Woodlands, TX); Rajesh Goteti (Katy, TX)
Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
E21B41/0064B65G5/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,704,045
App. No.
18/409,658
Filed
Jan 10, 2024
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3678
USPC
405/53
Abstract

Methods for carbon dioxide sequestration may comprise: introducing a fluid stream comprising carbon dioxide into an encapsulated salt minibasin, the encapsulated salt minibasin being surrounded by a salt barrier defining one or more boundaries thereof; and storing carbon dioxide from the fluid stream within the encapsulated salt minibasin after introduction thereto, the salt barrier retaining the carbon dioxide within the encapsulated salt minibasin.

Claims (35)

1 . A method comprising:

introducing a fluid stream comprising carbon dioxide into an encapsulated salt minibasin, the encapsulated salt minibasin comprising a sedimentary rock deposit surrounded by a salt barrier, the salt barrier defining one or more boundaries of the encapsulated salt minibasin; and

storing carbon dioxide from the fluid stream within the sedimentary rock deposit of the encapsulated salt minibasin after introduction thereto, the salt barrier retaining the carbon dioxide within the encapsulated salt minibasin.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid stream comprises a carbonated aqueous fluid, gaseous carbon dioxide, supercritical carbon dioxide, or any combination thereof.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the carbonated aqueous fluid comprises a carbonated brine or a carbonated aqueous salt solution.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein formation water native to the encapsulated salt minibasin is present in the encapsulated salt minibasin, the method further comprising:

withdrawing at least a portion of the formation water from the encapsulated salt minibasin to decrease pressure therein.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the fluid stream comprises a carbonated aqueous fluid.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the carbonated aqueous fluid is formed by dissolving carbon dioxide in at least a portion of the formation water withdrawn from the encapsulated salt minibasin.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the carbonated aqueous fluid is formed at a surface facility in fluid communication with an injection well penetrating the encapsulated salt minibasin.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the carbonated aqueous fluid is formed as the carbon dioxide and one or more aqueous fluids are being introduced to the encapsulated salt minibasin via an injection well penetrating the encapsulated salt minibasin.

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

10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the fluid stream comprises a carbonated aqueous fluid, the method further comprising:

withdrawing a portion of the carbonated aqueous fluid from the encapsulated salt minibasin at a first pressure;

introducing additional carbon dioxide thereto; and

reinjecting the carbonated aqueous fluid to the encapsulated salt minibasin at a second pressure higher than the first pressure.

11 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the fluid stream comprises supercritical carbon dioxide or gaseous carbon dioxide.

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

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

14 . A method comprising:

providing a fluid stream comprising a carbonated aqueous fluid, gaseous carbon dioxide, supercritical carbon dioxide, or any combination thereof;

introducing the fluid stream into an encapsulated salt minibasin, the encapsulated salt minibasin containing formation water native to the encapsulated salt minibasin and the encapsulated salt minibasin comprising a sedimentary rock deposit surrounded by a salt barrier, the salt barrier defining one or more boundaries of the encapsulated salt minibasin;

withdrawing at least a portion of the formation water from the encapsulated salt minibasin to decrease pressure therein; and

storing carbon dioxide from the fluid stream within the sedimentary rock deposit of the encapsulated salt minibasin after introduction thereto, the salt barrier retaining the carbon dioxide within the encapsulated salt minibasin.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fluid stream comprises a carbonated aqueous fluid, and the carbonated aqueous fluid comprises a carbonated brine or a carbonated aqueous salt solution.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the carbonated aqueous fluid is formed by dissolving carbon dioxide in at least a portion of the formation water withdrawn from the encapsulated salt minibasin.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fluid stream comprises a carbonated aqueous fluid, and the carbonated aqueous fluid is formed at a surface facility in fluid communication with an injection well penetrating the encapsulated salt minibasin.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fluid stream comprises a carbonated aqueous fluid, and the carbonated aqueous fluid is formed as the carbon dioxide and one or more aqueous fluids are being introduced to the encapsulated salt minibasin via an injection well.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the formation water comprises a brine.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fluid stream comprises a carbonated aqueous fluid, the method further comprising:

withdrawing a portion of the carbonated aqueous fluid from the encapsulated salt minibasin at a first pressure;

introducing additional carbon dioxide thereto; and

reinjecting the carbonated aqueous fluid to the encapsulated salt minibasin at a second pressure higher than the first pressure.

21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fluid stream comprises a carbonated aqueous fluid, and the formation water is withdrawn from the encapsulated salt minibasin prior to or concurrently with introducing the carbonated aqueous fluid to the encapsulated salt minibasin.

22 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fluid stream comprises supercritical carbon dioxide or gaseous carbon dioxide.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2024
From: SAUDI ARAMCO UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067972/0109 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2024
From: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
To: SAUDI ARAMCO UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067972/0025 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2024
From: ALBERTZ, MARKUS; GOTETI, RAJESH
To: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066087/0223 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250223889A1 · Jul 10, 2025
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