Enhanced carbon capture and storage in depleted sandstone reservoirs using silica nanofluids

The main challenges impairing widespread carbon capture implementation are the high costs of CO2 purification and storage. CO2 utilization in form of enhanced oil recovery fluid has the potential to make the technique economically viable. Hence in this study, the absorption potential of synthetic flue gas (20% CO2 and 80% N2) was investigated in single-step silica nanofluids of varying wt% (0.05 and 0.1) using the standard pressure-decay method. The inclusion of silica nanoparticles (NPs) was found to majorly improve the gas absorption over the base fluids (water and 1000 ppm PAM), which is highly beneficial for carbon storage. Significantly, a higher NP wt% was found to be more conducive for higher gas absorption. The carbonated water was then used as a mobility control agent for flue gas storage inside a synthesized porous media which mimicked a depleted oil reservoir. The injection of gas solvated fluids was beneficial for higher oil recovery. Based on this study, it was established that gas solvated water significantly improved oil recovery and gas storage which was directly proportional to the amount of gas solvation. The performed work is anticipated to have great applicability in the carbon capture and utilization in enhanced oil recovery. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Innovations in Clean Energy Technologies.

Automated summary

The main challenges in widespread carbon capture implementation are the high costs of CO2 purification and storage. This study investigates the absorption potential of synthetic flue gas using silica nanofluids of varying wt%. Results show that the inclusion of silica nanoparticles improves gas absorption, with higher NP wt% being more conducive for absorption. The study also demonstrates that gas solvated water significantly enhances oil recovery and gas storage, directly proportional to the amount of gas solvation.