IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v335y2025ics0360544225039155.html

Numerical simulation of CO2 sequestration stability in carbonate-bearing saline aquifers: Effects of mineral dissolution

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Xiang
  • Huang, Qisheng
  • Liu, Pingli
  • Du, Juan
  • Guo, Yazhou
  • Xiong, Zilan

Abstract

Geological sequestration is a key technology for the long-term and safe storage of CO2, but subsurface migration may pose significant leakage risks. This study develops a two-dimensional fully coupled thermo-hydro-chemical (THC) numerical model for CO2 storage in carbonate-bearing saline aquifers, incorporating Darcy flow, unsteady heat conduction and convection, nonlinear acid-rock reactions, pore structure evolution, and reaction heat. The model is verified using experimental results and applied to assess how geological features, temperature, and CO2 partial pressure (pCO2) influence the risk of leakage. Results show that high-permeability features (e.g., fractures) significantly accelerate wormhole formation, increasing leakage risk; low-temperature conditions lead to higher leakage potential, while high temperatures may destabilize the reservoir. Elevated pCO2 substantially increases wormhole growth rates, making it a critical factor in leakage risk. The study highlights the importance of identifying and avoiding high-permeability zones and optimizing injection strategies to enhance storage security. The developed model offers a theoretical basis for optimizing site selection, designing injection strategies, and implementing monitoring protocols in CO2 storage operations.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Xiang & Huang, Qisheng & Liu, Pingli & Du, Juan & Guo, Yazhou & Xiong, Zilan, 2025. "Numerical simulation of CO2 sequestration stability in carbonate-bearing saline aquifers: Effects of mineral dissolution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:335:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225039155
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.138273
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225039155
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2025.138273?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiao, Ting & Chen, Ting & Ma, Zhiwei & Tian, Hailong & Meguerdijian, Saro & Chen, Bailian & Pawar, Rajesh & Huang, Lianjie & Xu, Tianfu & Cather, Martha & McPherson, Brian, 2024. "A review of risk and uncertainty assessment for geologic carbon storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    2. He, Yongbin & He, Jianming & Zhang, Yixiang & Wang, Zehua & Zhang, Zhaobin & Li, Shouding & Li, Xiao, 2025. "Influence of injection temperature on CO2 storage dynamics in saline aquifers: Insights from THC-coupled process modeling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    3. Zhang, Weiwei & Wang, Yuanrong & Chen, Ximei & Li, Yunzhuo & Dai, He, 2025. "Exploring the diffusion mechanisms of CCS-EOR technology: A quadripartite evolutionary game," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    4. Li, Zezheng & Yu, Pengwei & Xian, Yujiao & Fan, Jing-Li, 2024. "Investment benefit analysis of coal-to-hydrogen coupled CCS technology in China based on real option approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    5. Xiao, Ting & Moodie, Nathan & Jia, Wei & Smith, Philip & Xu, Lei & Zhang, Liwei & McPherson, Brian, 2025. "Uncertainty reduction of potential leakage from geologic CO2 storage reservoirs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    6. Jiang, Xi, 2011. "A review of physical modelling and numerical simulation of long-term geological storage of CO2," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(11), pages 3557-3566.
    7. Brandoni, Caterina & Kaldis, Sotiris & Lappas, Angelos & Snape, Colin & Jaffar, Mohammad & Rolfe, Angela & Hewitt, Neil J. & Martinez, Juan Carlos & Lysiak, Beata & Huang, Ye, 2025. "Process design and techno-economic risk assessment of a solid sorbent silica polyethyleneimine (Si-PEI) CCS process integrated into a cement plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    8. Li, Qiang & Chai, Shanglei & Chen, Siyuan, 2025. "Optimizing China's power mix under heterogeneous risk preferences: Roles of carbon pricing, energy storage, and CCS toward 2060," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    9. Zhang, Lisong & Jiang, Menggang & Yang, Qingchun & Chen, Shaoying & Wang, Wei, 2023. "Evolution of fault-induced salt precipitation due to convection of CO2 and brine along fault during CO2 storage in multilayered saline aquifer-caprock," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    10. Jing, Jing & Yang, Yanlin & Cheng, Jianmei & Ding, Zhaojing & Jing, Xianwen, 2024. "Exploring the influences of salinity on CO2 plume migration and storage capacity in sloping formations: A numerical investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    11. Liu, Quanyou & Zhu, Dongya & Jin, Zhijun & Tian, Hailong & Zhou, Bing & Jiang, Peixue & Meng, Qingqiang & Wu, Xiaoqi & Xu, Huiyuan & Hu, Ting & Zhu, Huixing, 2023. "Carbon capture and storage for long-term and safe sealing with constrained natural CO2 analogs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    12. Zhou, Yiyang & Tang, Ligen & Song, Zhiyong & Pan, Bin & Yue, Ming & Liu, Jinzi & Song, Hongqing, 2024. "Research on CO2 sequestration in saline aquifers with different relative permeability considering CO2 phase conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    13. Tan, Yongsheng & Li, Qi & Chen, Bowen & Xu, Liang & Yu, Tao & Cao, Xiaomin, 2024. "Experimental investigation of SiO2 nanoparticle–assisted CO2 flooding in carbonate saline aquifers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    14. Liao, Haifan & Wang, Xinying & Yang, Kuang & Hou, Zhenghui & Wang, Haijun, 2025. "Impurity-driven variations in CO2 critical flow dynamics: Modeling approaches for enhanced CCS safety," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    15. Lu, Song & Hu, Chenlin & Wang, Xiangyan & Quaye, Jonathan Atuquaye & Deng, Li, 2025. "Carbon dioxide storage in clastic rocks: Review and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    16. Dabbaghi, Ehsan & Ng, Kam, 2024. "Effects of CO2 on the mineralogy, mechanical, and transport properties of rocks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    17. Zhang, Lisong & Yang, Qingchun & Jiang, Menggang & Yang, Wendong & Bian, Yinghui, 2024. "A new salt-precipitation-based self-remediation model for CO2 leakage along fault during geological CO2 storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    18. He, Youwei & Qiu, Shuai & Qin, Jiazheng & Tang, Yong & Yu, Wei & Wang, Yunchuan & Du, Xinyan & Rui, Zhenhua, 2025. "Feasibility of CO2-water alternate flooding and CO2 storage in tight oil reservoirs with complex fracture networks based on embedded discrete fracture model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 319(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. You, Junyu & Ampomah, William & Sun, Qian, 2020. "Co-optimizing water-alternating-carbon dioxide injection projects using a machine learning assisted computational framework," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    2. Sanna, Aimaro & Dri, Marco & Hall, Matthew R. & Maroto-Valer, Mercedes, 2012. "Waste materials for carbon capture and storage by mineralisation (CCSM) – A UK perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 545-554.
    3. Zhang, Jingru & Gong, Guangjun & Zhang, Yi & Jiang, Lanlan & Chen, Cong & Song, Yongchen, 2025. "Enhancing hydrate-based CO2 storage security in muddy reservoirs: Quantitative analysis of permeability and breakthrough pressure," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    4. Huang, Liang & Ning, Zhengfu & Wang, Qing & Zhang, Wentong & Cheng, Zhilin & Wu, Xiaojun & Qin, Huibo, 2018. "Effect of organic type and moisture on CO2/CH4 competitive adsorption in kerogen with implications for CO2 sequestration and enhanced CH4 recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 28-43.
    5. Xie, Heping & Liu, Tao & Wang, Yufei & Wu, Yifan & Wang, Fuhuan & Tang, Liang & Jiang, Wen & Liang, Bin, 2017. "Enhancement of electricity generation in CO2 mineralization cell by using sodium sulfate as the reaction medium," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 991-999.
    6. Nasvi, M.C.M. & Ranjith, P.G. & Sanjayan, J., 2014. "Effect of different mix compositions on apparent carbon dioxide (CO2) permeability of geopolymer: Suitability as well cement for CO2 sequestration wells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 939-948.
    7. Xiang Li & Songtao Wu & Yue Shen & Chanfei Wang, 2025. "Review on Changes in Shale Oil Property During CO 2 Injection," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-21, March.
    8. De Blasis, Riccardo & Pacelli, Graziella & Vergine, Salvatore, 2026. "Investment valuation of photovoltaic and energy storage systems for diverse energy communities: A real option approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 404(C).
    9. Dai, Zhenxue & Zhang, Ye & Bielicki, Jeffrey & Amooie, Mohammad Amin & Zhang, Mingkan & Yang, Changbing & Zou, Youqin & Ampomah, William & Xiao, Ting & Jia, Wei & Middleton, Richard & Zhang, Wen & Sun, 2018. "Heterogeneity-assisted carbon dioxide storage in marine sediments," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 876-883.
    10. Xing, Ji & Liu, Zhenyi & Huang, Ping & Feng, Changgen & Zhou, Yi & Sun, Ruiyan & Wang, Shigang, 2014. "CFD validation of scaling rules for reduced-scale field releases of carbon dioxide," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 525-530.
    11. Raziperchikolaee, S. & Alvarado, V. & Yin, S., 2013. "Effect of hydraulic fracturing on long-term storage of CO2 in stimulated saline aquifers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 1091-1104.
    12. Yidi Wan & Chengzao Jia & Wen Zhao & Lin Jiang & Zhuxin Chen, 2023. "Micro-Scale Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Two-Phase CO 2 –Brine Flow in a Tighter REV Extracted from a Permeable Sandstone Core: Implications for CO 2 Storage Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-26, February.
    13. Xiao, Ting & Moodie, Nathan & Jia, Wei & Smith, Philip & Xu, Lei & Zhang, Liwei & McPherson, Brian, 2025. "Uncertainty reduction of potential leakage from geologic CO2 storage reservoirs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    14. Kim, Tae Hong & Cho, Jinhyung & Lee, Kun Sang, 2017. "Evaluation of CO2 injection in shale gas reservoirs with multi-component transport and geomechanical effects," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 1195-1206.
    15. Tang, Zekai & Chen, Zhiming & Han, Jiapeng & Zhao, Xin & Chen, Zhaowei & Tan, Peng, 2025. "A new tEDFM-based analysis of interference characterization in tight gas reservoir," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 330(C).
    16. Dahai, He & Zhihong, Yin & Lin, Qin & Yuhong, Li & Lei, Tian & Jiang, Li & Liandong, Zhu, 2024. "The application of magical microalgae in carbon sequestration and emission reduction: Removal mechanisms and potential analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    17. Hosseini, Tahereh & Haque, Nawshad & Selomulya, Cordelia & Zhang, Lian, 2016. "Mineral carbonation of Victorian brown coal fly ash using regenerative ammonium chloride – Process simulation and techno-economic analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 54-68.
    18. Bukar, Ahmed M. & Asif, Muhammad, 2024. "Technology readiness level assessment of carbon capture and storage technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    19. Zhang, Lisong & Yang, Qingchun & Jiang, Menggang & Yang, Wendong & Bian, Yinghui, 2024. "A new salt-precipitation-based self-remediation model for CO2 leakage along fault during geological CO2 storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    20. Lu, Yiyu & Chen, Xiayu & Tang, Jiren & Li, Honglian & Zhou, Lei & Han, Shuaibin & Ge, Zhaolong & Xia, Binwei & Shen, Huajian & Zhang, Jing, 2019. "Relationship between pore structure and mechanical properties of shale on supercritical carbon dioxide saturation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 270-285.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:335:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225039155. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.