Impact of Rapid Cooling and Depressurization on Limestone Compressive Strength: Implications for CO2 Injection in Carbonate Reservoirs.
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| Title: | Impact of Rapid Cooling and Depressurization on Limestone Compressive Strength: Implications for CO |
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| Authors: | Verberne, Bart1 (AUTHOR) bart.verberne@shell.com, Wolterbeek, Tim2 (AUTHOR), van der Linden, Arjan1 (AUTHOR), El Azouzi, Khalid1 (AUTHOR), van Schalm, Robert1 (AUTHOR), Coorn, Ab1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering. May2026, Vol. 59 Issue 5, p5725-5742. 18p. |
| Subjects: | Carbon dioxide injection, Carbonate reservoirs, Rock properties, Rock mechanics, Carbon sequestration, Thermal shock, Hydrocarbon reservoirs |
| Abstract: | CO2-injection into depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs can lead to rapid cooling and a CO2 phase change in the near-wellbore region, which may have adverse effects on rock strength. We report on the effects of thermal shock (ΔT) and rapid CO2 depressurization (ΔP) on the compressive strength of dry and brine-saturated limestones. Plugs were prepared from Indiana Limestone and a partially dolomitized limestone outcropping in Sanpete County, Utah, USA, and subjected to compressive strength tests untreated and after ΔT- or ΔP- treatment. The ΔT-treatment consisted of emplacement of samples from 60 ºC into dry ice (− 78 ºC), while the ΔP-treatment consisted of three cycles of decompression-recompression between 9 MPa and atmospheric pressure using CO2 as working fluid. Decompression was achieved in ~ 10 s and carried out at background temperatures of 24 ºC and 60 ºC. Virgin, ΔT-, and ΔP-treated samples were subjected to unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and thick-walled cylinder (TWC) collapse strength tests. A comparison between virgin and treated samples is made using the mechanical data, micro-CT scans, and optical microscopy on sectioned trim-ends. Dry samples are generally stronger than their brine-saturated counterparts, but the effects from ΔT- or ΔP-treatment on rock strength or stiffness are insignificant given sample variability. Based on these findings we suggest that CO2-injection into depleted limestone reservoirs can lead to strengthening of desiccated regions, but with negligible negative impact from thermal shock or CO2 depressurization on rock mechanical integrity. More research is needed to understand if these conclusions extend to a wider range of carbonate reservoirs. Highlights: The compressive strength of brine-saturated Indiana and Sanpete Valley limestone plugs measured 63–88% of their dry counterparts. Thermal shock from 60 to − 78 °C does not lead to a discernible decrease of the compressive strength of Indiana and Sanpete Valley limestone. CO2 depressurization from 9 MPa to atmosphere in 10 s does not lead to a discernible decrease in the compressive strength of these limestones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 194004660 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Impact of Rapid Cooling and Depressurization on Limestone Compressive Strength: Implications for CO<subscript>2</subscript> Injection in Carbonate Reservoirs. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Verberne%2C+Bart%22">Verberne, Bart</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> bart.verberne@shell.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wolterbeek%2C+Tim%22">Wolterbeek, Tim</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22van+der+Linden%2C+Arjan%22">van der Linden, Arjan</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22El+Azouzi%2C+Khalid%22">El Azouzi, Khalid</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22van+Schalm%2C+Robert%22">van Schalm, Robert</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Coorn%2C+Ab%22">Coorn, Ab</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Rock+Mechanics+%26+Rock+Engineering%22">Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 59 Issue 5, p5725-5742. 18p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Carbon+dioxide+injection%22">Carbon dioxide injection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Carbonate+reservoirs%22">Carbonate reservoirs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rock+properties%22">Rock properties</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rock+mechanics%22">Rock mechanics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Carbon+sequestration%22">Carbon sequestration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermal+shock%22">Thermal shock</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hydrocarbon+reservoirs%22">Hydrocarbon reservoirs</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: CO2-injection into depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs can lead to rapid cooling and a CO2 phase change in the near-wellbore region, which may have adverse effects on rock strength. We report on the effects of thermal shock (ΔT) and rapid CO2 depressurization (ΔP) on the compressive strength of dry and brine-saturated limestones. Plugs were prepared from Indiana Limestone and a partially dolomitized limestone outcropping in Sanpete County, Utah, USA, and subjected to compressive strength tests untreated and after ΔT- or ΔP- treatment. The ΔT-treatment consisted of emplacement of samples from 60 ºC into dry ice (− 78 ºC), while the ΔP-treatment consisted of three cycles of decompression-recompression between 9 MPa and atmospheric pressure using CO2 as working fluid. Decompression was achieved in ~ 10 s and carried out at background temperatures of 24 ºC and 60 ºC. Virgin, ΔT-, and ΔP-treated samples were subjected to unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and thick-walled cylinder (TWC) collapse strength tests. A comparison between virgin and treated samples is made using the mechanical data, micro-CT scans, and optical microscopy on sectioned trim-ends. Dry samples are generally stronger than their brine-saturated counterparts, but the effects from ΔT- or ΔP-treatment on rock strength or stiffness are insignificant given sample variability. Based on these findings we suggest that CO2-injection into depleted limestone reservoirs can lead to strengthening of desiccated regions, but with negligible negative impact from thermal shock or CO2 depressurization on rock mechanical integrity. More research is needed to understand if these conclusions extend to a wider range of carbonate reservoirs. Highlights: The compressive strength of brine-saturated Indiana and Sanpete Valley limestone plugs measured 63–88% of their dry counterparts. Thermal shock from 60 to − 78 °C does not lead to a discernible decrease of the compressive strength of Indiana and Sanpete Valley limestone. CO2 depressurization from 9 MPa to atmosphere in 10 s does not lead to a discernible decrease in the compressive strength of these limestones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s00603-024-04085-0 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 18 StartPage: 5725 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Carbon dioxide injection Type: general – SubjectFull: Carbonate reservoirs Type: general – SubjectFull: Rock properties Type: general – SubjectFull: Rock mechanics Type: general – SubjectFull: Carbon sequestration Type: general – SubjectFull: Thermal shock Type: general – SubjectFull: Hydrocarbon reservoirs Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Impact of Rapid Cooling and Depressurization on Limestone Compressive Strength: Implications for CO2 Injection in Carbonate Reservoirs. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Verberne, Bart – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wolterbeek, Tim – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: van der Linden, Arjan – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: El Azouzi, Khalid – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: van Schalm, Robert – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Coorn, Ab IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 07232632 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 59 – Type: issue Value: 5 Titles: – TitleFull: Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering Type: main |
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