Understanding the Role of Scale Management in Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)

Stephen Heath, Eric Mackay, Khosro Jarrahian, Oleg Ishkov, Patricia Gusmão

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Recent trends towards carbon net zero and the push to develop renewable energy as an alternative to fossil fuels have resulted in major environmental focus on de-carbonisation projects with an emphasis on carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS). Both carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) and carbon capture and storage (CCS), capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from heavy industries and air, by direct air capture (DAC), and transport it to sites by rail, boat, or pipeline for injection into geological reservoirs for permanent storage and/or enhanced oil recovery (EOR). A range of issues related to mineral scale deposition can be encountered that impact the efficiency of CO2 injection and utilisation/storage. These can include calcium carbonate deposition during CO2 capture in a calcium looping process, halite (NaCl) precipitation during supercritical dry CO2 injection and CO2 leakage due to the dissolution of carbonate cements and minerals in reservoir rocks which impact both cement and reservoir rock integrity. During CO2 utilisation for EOR, downhole and topside calcium carbonate deposition can occur in the production facilities. Effective scale management strategies are essential to maintain a safe, sustainable, and efficient CCUS process. It will also be necessary to minimise CO2 footprint during the whole lifecycle by making it less energy demanding. Scale control can be based on continuous scale inhibitor injection or squeeze treatments. Additionally, for wellbore integrity and to better isolate the well from the formation, sulphate scale may deliberately be deposited to provide extra strength to cements impacted by contact with CO2. This intentional precipitation of sulphate minerals needs special attention to be paid to ensure precipitation in the correct location. This involves consideration of pumping equipment, well completion, and rock type as they impact the deployment process to control the location, rate and mass of sulphate mineral deposition. This paper reviews the scale issues arising during CCUS including calcium carbonate deposition during carbon capture, halite and microbial induced calcium carbonate deposition during CO2 injection. Both conventional and unconventional scale management approaches are considered including treatments with and without scale inhibitors. The impact of well completion, cement type, and CO2 injection rates on CCUS and the selected scale management process are discussed. In addition, laboratory data for controlled barium sulphate (BaSO4) mineral scale deposition is presented coupled with field designs for CO2 utilisation through disposal in injection water in a calcareous sandstone and CO2 water alternating gas (WAG) injection in a carbonate reservoir.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSPE Oilfield Scale Symposium 2024
PublisherSociety of Petroleum Engineers
ISBN (Electronic)9781959025467
ISBN (Print)9781959025467
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Jun 2024
EventSPE Oilfield Scale Symposium 2024 - Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Duration: 5 Jun 20246 Jun 2024

Conference

ConferenceSPE Oilfield Scale Symposium 2024
Abbreviated titleOSS 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityAberdeen
Period5/06/246/06/24

Keywords

  • geologist
  • carbonate rock
  • clastic rock
  • mineral
  • rock type
  • geochemistry
  • geological subdiscipline
  • geochemical characterization
  • concentration
  • reaction

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