Caprock integrity for geological CO
Methods and systems for reinforcing caprock and enhancing caprock integrity for CO 2 geosequestration. The methods and systems include a reaction between precursor chemicals and CO 2 to form mineralization and/or gelation that reinforces the caprock and prevents leakage of geosequestered CO 2 . The precursor chemicals include bifunctional molecules comprising a first functional group for binding to a mineral surface of the caprock and a second functional group for reacting with the CO 2 .
1 . A method comprising:
providing an injection well into which fluids are injected into a saline aquifer, the saline aquifer located below a caprock and an interface located between the saline aquifer and the caprock;
injecting a plurality of precursor chemicals comprising bifunctional molecules comprising a first functional group for binding to a mineral surface of the caprock and a second functional group for reacting with the CO 2 through the injection well and into the saline aquifer;
depositing the precursor chemicals at or near the interface;
injecting CO 2 through the injection well and into the saline aquifer;
contacting the CO 2 with the precursor chemicals; and
reacting the CO 2 and the precursor chemicals to reinforce the caprock by one or both of mineralization or gelation, thereby forming reinforced caprock.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bifunctional molecules comprise an alkoxysilane functional group for binding to a mineral surface of the caprock and an organofunctional group for reacting with the CO 2 , the organofunctional group comprising an amine or an acid.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of precursor chemicals is selected from the group consisting of bis(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl)amine; 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane; N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine; N-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]diethylenetriamine; N-(trimethoxysilylpropyl)ethylenediaminetriacetate; 3-(1,3-dimethylbutylidene)aminopropyltriethoxysilane; n-(2-aminomethyl)-2,2,4-trimethyl-1-aza-2-silacyclopentane; n-(2-aminoethyl)-2,2,4-trimethyl-1-aza-2-silacyclopentane; 1-ethyl-2,2-dimethoxy-4-methyl-1-aza-2-silacyclopentane; 1,6-hexanediamine; and any combination thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of precursor chemicals comprises 1,6-hexanediamine, adipic acid, or both.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of precursor chemicals is a waste plastic selected from the group consisting of a polyamide, a polyaramid, a polyimide, and any combination thereof.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the saline aquifer is an aqueous environment comprising divalent ions, the divalent ions including at least one or both of Mg 2+ or Ca 2+ .
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising geosequestering a CO 2 plume beneath the reinforced caprock.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the caprock comprises at least one leakage pathway selected from the group consisting of a fault, a fracture, and any combination thereof, and further comprising geosequestering a CO 2 plume beneath the reinforced caprock and preventing leakage of CO 2 from the geosequestered CO 2 plume through the at least one leakage pathway.
9 . A method comprising:
providing an injection well into which fluids are injected into a saline aquifer having a geosequestered CO 2 plume therein, the saline aquifer located below a caprock and an interface located between the saline aquifer and the caprock, and
wherein the caprock comprises at least one leakage pathway;
injecting a plurality of precursor chemicals comprising bifunctional molecules comprising a first functional group for binding to a mineral surface of the caprock and a second functional group for reacting with the CO 2 through the injection well and into the saline aquifer;
depositing the precursor chemicals at or near the interface;
contacting the precursor chemicals with the geosequestered CO 2 ; and
reacting the CO 2 and the precursor chemicals to reinforce the caprock by one or both of mineralization or gelation, thereby forming reinforced caprock and preventing leakage of CO 2 from the geosequestered CO 2 plume through the at least one leakage pathway.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the bifunctional molecules comprise an alkoxysilane functional group for binding to a mineral surface of the caprock and an organofunctional group for reacting with the CO 2 , the organofunctional group comprising an amine or an acid.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of precursor chemicals is selected from the group consisting of bis(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl)amine; 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane; N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine; N-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]diethylenetriamine; N-(trimethoxysilylpropyl)ethylenediaminetriacetate; 3-(1,3-dimethylbutylidene)aminopropyltriethoxysilane; n-(2-aminomethyl)-2,2,4-trimethyl-1-aza-2-silacyclopentane; n-(2-aminoethyl)-2,2,4-trimethyl-1-aza-2-silacyclopentane; 1-ethyl-2,2-dimethoxy-4-methyl-1-aza-2-silacyclopentane; 1,6-hexanediamine; and any combination thereof.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of precursor chemicals comprises 1,6-hexanediamine.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of precursor chemicals comprises adipic acid.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of precursor chemicals is a waste plastic selected from the group consisting of a polyamide, a polyaramid, a polyimide, and any combination thereof.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the saline aquifer is an aqueous environment comprising divalent ions, the divalent ions including at least one or both of Mg 2+ or Ca 2+ .
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one leakage pathway is selected from the group consisting of a fault, a fracture, and any combination thereof.
17 . A system comprising:
an injection well for accessing a saline aquifer into which fluids are injected into the saline aquifer,
a reinforced caprock located above the saline aquifer and an interface located between the saline aquifer and the caprock,
a geosequestered CO 2 plume in the saline aquifer beneath the reinforced caprock, wherein a plurality of precursor chemicals are injected through the injection well and into the saline aquifer,
wherein the precursor chemicals are deposited at or near the interface,
wherein the reinforced caprock is comprised of one or both of mineralization or gelation by a reaction between the CO 2 and the plurality of precursor chemicals produced when the CO 2 contacts the plurality of precursor chemicals,
wherein the plurality of precursor chemicals comprises bifunctional molecules comprising a first functional group for binding to a mineral surface of the caprock and a second functional group for reacting with the CO 2 .