Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
A reactive percolation experiment was conducted by injecting seawater into a permeable olivine aggregate at 190 °C and 19 MPa to explore the relationships between hydration reactions and hydrodynamic properties during the onset of serpentinization in the ultramafic lithosphere exposed at mid-ocean ridges. The experiment was stopped after 23 days when the sample became impermeable. The initial flow rate was 0.2 mL/h and then was decreased down to 0.06 mL/h after 8 days. Permeability decreased continuously throughout the experiment. The analyses of fluid chemistry time series and of the mineralogy and structure of the reacted sample showed olivine dissolution and precipitation of proto-serpentine, brucite and Fe-oxides. These reactions are controlled by coupled hydrodynamic and chemical processes interacting at different time and spatial scales. Their first characteristic is the production of silica rich outlet fluids in disequilibrium with the observed reacted mineral assemblages. These compositions are interpreted as resulting from a suite of coupled dissolution-precipitation reactions, controlled at the pore scale by surface kinetic processes, that rapidly reaches steady-state (constant fluid composition independent of fluid flux). Hence, the effective rate of serpentinization was controlled, to the first order, by the transport of reactants during the experiment. Mass balance calculations show that the rate of olivine conversion was fast (0.2-0.5 wt%/day), yet only ∼8 wt% of the olivine sample reacted, because the permeability drop limited fluid circulation. Porosity varied little during the experiment compared to permeability changes: the decrease of permeability was explained by the structure of the newly formed serpentine favouring the clogging of fluid paths. The rate at which permeability decreased was the fastest at low flux conditions. This suggests that permeability changes were not controlled simply by the kinetics of the serpentinization reactions, but mainly reflected the development of low Peclet pore scale zones forming micro-environments that control the serpentinization reaction-paths. These results outline the need to take into account the coupling of hydrodynamic and chemical processes when modelling the effects of reactive transport within the hydrating oceanic lithosphere.
ISSN: 0012-821X

hal-00855043
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00855043
DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2013.03.052

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Résumé : International audience
We describe the structure, microstructure, and petrophysical properties of fault rocks from two normal fault zones formed in low-porosity turbiditic arkosic sandstones, in deep diagenesis conditions similar to those of deeply buried reservoirs. These fault rocks are characterized by a foliated fabric and quartz-calcite sealed veins, which formation resulted from the combination of the (1) pressure solution of quartz, (2) intense fracturing sealed by quartz and calcite cements, and (3) neoformation of synkinematic white micas derived from the alteration of feldspars and chlorite. Fluid inclusion microthermometry in quartz and calcite cements demonstrates fault activity at temperatures of 195degC to 268degC. Permeability measurements on plugs oriented parallel with the principal axes of the finite strain ellipsoid show that the Y axis (parallel with the foliation and veins) is the direction of highest permeability in the foliated sandstone (10-2 md for Y against 10-3 md for X, Z, and the protolith, measured at a confining pressure of 20 bars). Microstructural observations document the localization of the preferential fluid path between the phyllosilicate particles forming the foliation. Hence, the direction of highest permeability in these fault rocks would be parallel with the fault and subhorizontal, that is, perpendicular to the slickenlines representing the local slip direction on the fault surface. We suggest that a similar relationship between kinematic markers and fault rock permeability anisotropy may be found in other fault zone types (reverse or strike-slip) affecting feldspar-rich lithologies in deep diagenesis conditions.
ISSN: 0149-1423

hal-00903428
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00903428
DOI : 10.1306/03071312127

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
The porosity (from values of <1% up to more than 50%, with a mean value of 36.5%) and permeability (from very low values to 20.4 D, with a mean value around 800 mD) of 38 plugs, with a diameter 40 mm, have been measured. These plugs were taken approximately every 1.5 m along a 100 m-long core, sampling a series of reefal carbonate platform lithofacies. A non-unique relationship between porosity and permeability is obtained. In addition, the porosity was measured from processing X-ray micro-tomography images with resolutions ranging from 0.42 to 190.0 µm and sampling volumes ranging from less than 1 µm3 to few cm3. Depending on the structure of the pore network, the computed porosity is, in some cases, controlled by the X-ray image resolution and the sampled volume. While high resolution is required to image micro-porous material, large samples with lower resolution images are necessary for identifying distributed vugs and millimetre-scale structures. This study shows that multi-resolution X-ray micro-tomography is an effective tool for characterizing the multi-scale pore structure of carbonate rocks and understanding how it may control key petrophysical parameters such as porosity and permeability.
Geological Society Special Publication

hal-01174157
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01174157
DOI : 10.1144/SP406.12

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
A CO2-rich brine core-flood experiment in calcite limestone for conditions representative of underground storage (P = 12 MPa and T = 100°C) was performed in order to explore the dissolution mechanisms arising at moderate CO2 partial pressure (0.3 MPa). An increase of the total porosity (φT) accompanied by a persistent permeability (k) decrease was measured. The mechanisms controlling this atypical anticorrelated k − φT relationship were investigated from the analysis of high-resolution X-ray microtomography images of the sample acquired before and after the experiment. All the evidences converge to the conclusion that the ubiquitous decrease of permeability measured during the 44 h of dissolution is due to the clogging of a fraction of the macroporosity by microporous material triggered by the rearrangement of the detached undissolved particles. This mechanism results in the development of low permeability zones bridging the macroporosity.
ISSN: 0094-8276

hal-00903585
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00903585
DOI : 10.1002/grl.50595

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Geological storage of CO2 is one of diverse technologies being explored to reduce atmospheric carbon fromindustrial processes (i.e. fossil fuel combustion). One of the specific features of CO2 injection is the possibility ofgeochemical reactions (dissolution – precipitation) between mobile reactive brine (e.g. formation water enrichedin CO2) and the host rock during the spatial and temporal evolution of CO2. That leads to modifications in thepore structure, which in turn change the flow dynamics of the reservoir (e.g. the permeability k). Then, thesesstructural modifications can largely control the injectivity, so that the pressure field in the reservoir and also theCO2 propagation. Accordingly, it is crucial to explore the changes in the reservoir properties (e.g. structural andhydrodynamic) induced during a CO2 injection and specially the relationships between them (e.g. k or reactivesurface-Sr versus porosity-φ , k versus rock heterogeneity), for developing predictive modelling tools of thetransport and reaction processes occurring during a CO2 injection and reliable risk assessment. In the case ofcarbonate rocks, the application of the predictive models of transport and reaction is still challenging, because oftheir high heterogeneity so that the incertitude in the reaction kinetics of carbonate minerals.From this perspective, we realized brine-enriched in CO2 percolation experiments through carbonate rocksamples in thermodynamic conditions expected during CO2 injection in deep reservoirs (T = 100°C et P =12MPa). The permeability changes k(t) is monitored during the experiments and the porosity variationφ (t) iscalculated from chemical analyses of the sampled outlet fluids, using ICP-EAS. The pore structure modificationsare investigated from high resolution X ray micro tomography images acquired from the synchrotron ofGrenoble (ESRF). Depending to the dissolution regime, controlled by the reservoir rock fabric and the chemicalcomposition of the brine (e.g. PCO2), we observed that a modification of pore structure can either improve(atypical result in dissolution context) or impair the value of the permeability k.
Le stockage géologique du CO2 est l’une des diverses technologies étant explorées afin deréduire les émissions de carbone atmosphérique des processus industriels (i.e. combustion del’énergie fossile). L’une des spécifiques caractéristiques de l’injection du CO2 en profondeurreste la possibilité de réactions géochimiques (dissolution-précipitation) entre la saumureréactive mobile (e.g. eau de formation enrichie en CO2) et la roche encaissante durantl’évolution spatiale et temporelle du CO2, conduisant à des modifications dans la structure despores et par conséquent dans les propriétés d’écoulement du réservoir (e.g. la perméabilité k).Donc, ces changements structuraux peuvent largement contrôler l’injectivité, ainsi que lechamp de pression dans le réservoir et aussi la propagation du CO2. Il demeure ainsi cruciald’explorer les changement dans les propriétés de réservoirs (e.g. structurales ethydrodynamiques) induits durant une injection de CO2 et explicitement les relations existantesentre eux (e.g. k ou surface réactive-Sr versus porosité-φ , k versus hétérogénéité de la roche),afin de développer des outils de modélisation prédictive des processus de transport etréactionnels se produisant durant une injection de CO2 et d’évaluer de façon fiable les risques.Dans le cas des réservoirs carbonatés, l’application des modèles prédictifs de transport réactifdemeure toujours un enjeu, car contrainte par la forte hétérogénéité en leur sein ainsi que parl’incertitude dans la cinétique de réactions des minéraux carbonatés dans ce contexte. Danscette optique, nous avons réalisé des expériences de percolation à travers des échantillons deroches carbonatées dans les conditions thermodynamiques de stockage en profondeur (T =100°C et P =12 MPa). L’évolution de la perméabilité k(t) est suivie au cours desexpériences ; et la variation de la porosité φ (t) est calculée à partir des résultats d’analyseschimiques au ICP-AES des fluides de sortie échantillonnés. L’investigation des modificationsapportées à la structure des pores est réalisée par le biais de la Micro-Tomographie hauterésolution à rayon X, acquise au synchrotron de Grenoble (e.g. ESRF).Dépendant du régime de dissolution, contrôlé par la fabrique de la roche réservoir et lacomposition chimique de la saumuré chargée en CO2 (e.g. PCO2 engagée), on a observéqu’une modification de la structure de la roche peut soit améliorer soit détériorer (résultatatypique en contexte de dissolution) la valeur de la perméabilité k.
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01142136

tel-01142136
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01142136
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01142136/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01142136/file/thesemangane2013.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Numerical programs for simulating flow and reactive transport in porous media are essential tools for predicting reservoir properties changes triggered by CO2 underground injection. At reservoir scale, meshed models in which equations are solved assuming that constant macroscopic properties can be defined in each cells, are widely used. However, the parameterization of the dissolution-precipitation problem and of the feedback effects of these processes on the flow field is still challenging. The problem arises from the mismatch between the scales at which averaged parameters are defined in the meshed model and the scale at which chemical reactions occur and modify the pore network geometry. In this paper we investigate the links between the dissolution mechanisms that control the porosity changes and the related changes of the reactive surface area and of the permeability. First, the reactive surface area is computed from X-ray microtomography data obtained before and after a set of dissolution experiments of pure calcite rock samples using distinctly different brine-CO2 mixtures characterizing homogeneous to heterogeneous dissolution regimes. The results are used to validate the power law empirical model relating the reactive surface area to porosity proposed by Luquot and Gauze (2009). Second, we investigate the spatial distribution of the effective hydraulic radius and of the tortuosity, two structural parameters that control permeability, in order to explain the different porosity-permeability relationships observed for heterogeneous and homogeneous dissolution regimes. It is shown that the increase of permeability is due to the decrease of the tortuosity for homogeneous dissolution, whereas it is due to the combination of tortuosity decrease and hydraulic radius increase for heterogeneous dissolution. For the intermediate dissolution regime, identified to be the optimal regime for increasing permeability with small changes in porosity, the increase of permeability results from a large increase in the mean effective hydraulic radius of the sample.
ISSN: 0169-7722

hal-00617671
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00617671
DOI : 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2010.07.004

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : Limestone dissolution by CO2 -rich brine induces critical changes of the pore network geometrical parameters such as the pore size distribution, the connectivity, and the tortuosity which govern the macroscopic transport properties (permeability and dispersivity) that are required to parameterize the models, simulating the injection and the fate of CO2 . A set of four reactive core-flood experiments reproducing underground conditions ( T=100∘C and P=12 MPa) has been conducted for different CO2 partial pressures (0.034
ISSN: 0169-3913

hal-00963597
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00963597
DOI : 10.1007/s11242-013-0257-4