Microscopic study of salt precipitation dynamics during the injection process of CO2 storage in saline aquifers
type: CreativeWork
description: Global climate change, driven by CO₂ emissions, has caused a 1.1 °C rise in temperatures and a 30% increase in ocean acidity. The Paris Agreement targets net-zero emissions by 2050. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), especially geological CO₂ storage in saline aquifers, can store billions of tons of CO₂. However, salt precipitation during injection can clog pores and reduce permeability. Understanding the dynamics of this process, influenced by injection flow rate, pore structure, and brine properties, is crucial for optimizing CCUS strategies. This thesis examines the impact of salt precipitation on CO₂ geological storage in saline aquifers using microfluidic experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. It analyses the dynamics and mechanisms of salt precipitation, examines key influencing factors such as injection flow rate, pore structure, and solution type, and proposes multiple feasible strategies to mitigate its adverse effects on storage efficiency and stability. The key research conclusions are as follows: (1) Salt Precipitation Dynamics Mechanism and Quantitative Analysis. Salt precipitation dynamics involve four main processes: nucleation, growth, migration, and blockage. Nucleation leads to two crystal types: in high-saturation regions (e.g., brine pool or bridge), large bulk crystals form and clog pores quickly, while in low-saturation regions (e.g., brine film), porous aggregated crystals with larger voids reduce blockage risk. Brine migration, driven by capillary backflow, intensifies localized precipitation. Ex-situ precipitation, caused by mobile bulk crystals moving away through residual brine, worsens pore blockage. Salt precipitation dynamics are quantified in three stages: 1) the nucleation stage, where small crystal clusters form; 2) the constant growth stage, where bulk crystals increase rapidly, heightening blockage risk; and 3) the decline stage, where complex, intertwined structures develop, exacerbating pore blockage. (2) F…
abstract: Global climate change, driven by CO₂ emissions, has caused a 1.1 °C rise in temperatures and a 30% increase in ocean acidity. The Paris Agreement targets net-zero emissions by 2050. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), especially geological CO₂ storage in saline aquifers, can store billions of tons of CO₂. However, salt precipitation during injection can clog pores and reduce permeability. Understanding the dynamics of this process, influenced by injection flow rate, pore structure, and brine properties, is crucial for optimizing CCUS strategies. This thesis examines the impact of salt precipitation on CO₂ geological storage in saline aquifers using microfluidic experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. It analyses the dynamics and mechanisms of salt precipitation, examines key influencing factors such as injection flow rate, pore structure, and solution type, and proposes multiple feasible strategies to mitigate its adverse effects on storage efficiency and stability. The key research conclusions are as follows: (1) Salt Precipitation Dynamics Mechanism and Quantitative Analysis. Salt precipitation dynamics involve four main processes: nucleation, growth, migration, and blockage. Nucleation leads to two crystal types: in high-saturation regions (e.g., brine pool or bridge), large bulk crystals form and clog pores quickly, while in low-saturation regions (e.g., brine film), porous aggregated crystals with larger voids reduce blockage risk. Brine migration, driven by capillary backflow, intensifies localized precipitation. Ex-situ precipitation, caused by mobile bulk crystals moving away through residual brine, worsens pore blockage. Salt precipitation dynamics are quantified in three stages: 1) the nucleation stage, where small crystal clusters form; 2) the constant growth stage, where bulk crystals increase rapidly, heightening blockage risk; and 3) the decline stage, where complex, intertwined structures develop, exacerbating pore blockage. (2) F…
author: Wang, Bo
language: en
date published: 2025-05
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:03:34Z
provider: University of Regina
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10294/17100

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.82465/130