Measurements of the capillary trapping of super-critical carbon dioxide in Berea sandstone

Abstract

We measure primary drainage capillary pressure and the relationship between initial and residual non-wetting phase saturation for a supercritical carbon dioxide (CO 2)-brine system in Berea sandstone. We use the semi-permeable disk (porous-plate) coreflood method. Brine and CO 2 were equilibrated prior to injection to ensure immiscible displacement. A maximum CO 2 saturation of 85% was measured for an applied capillary pressure of 296 kPa. After injection of brine the CO 2 saturation dropped to 35%; this is less than the maximum trapped saturation of 48% measured in an equivalent n-decane (oil)-brine experiment. The dimensionless capillary pressure is the same to within experimental error for supercritical CO 2 -brine, n-decane-brine and a mercury-air system. CO 2 is the non-wetting phase and significant quantities can be trapped by capillary forces. We discuss the implications for CO 2 storage. © 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.