CO2 Leakage Prevention by Introducing Engineered Nanoparticles to the In-situ Brine

Abstract Introducing engineered nanoparticles into an aquifer or reservoir can potentially increase the storage efficiency and mitigate the risk of leakage of stored CO 2 . We have measured flow pattern and pressure drop during core floods in which high pressure liquid CO 2 or a CO 2 analogue fluid displaces an aqueous suspension of nanoparticles. The displacement front is more spatially uniform and travels more slowly compared to a control displacement with no in- situ nanoparticles. Pressure measurements are consistent with generation of a viscous phase such as an emulsion during the displacement. These observations suggest that a nanoparticle stabilized emulsion is formed during the displacement which acts to suppress the viscous instability.