Influence of Oil-Wet Wettability and Nanoparticle Treatments on Carbonate Rock Dissolution and CO2Leakage Risk in Saline Aquifers
Khoramian R. Nurmyrza M. Lee W.
23 October 2025American Chemical Society
Energy and Fuels
2025#39Issue 4220489 - 20505 pp.
Wettability plays a critical role in governing CO2trapping mechanisms and geochemical interactions in saline aquifers. However, the influence of surface wettability on carbonate dissolution under CO2-rich conditions remains underexplored. This study investigates how oil-wet and nanoparticle-treated surfaces impact mineral dissolution, pore structure evolution, and leakage risk in carbonate formations. Controlled experiments were conducted on limestone core samples modified to three wettability states: untreated (water-wet), silica nanoparticle-treated, and oil-aged (CO2-wet). The samples were exposed to CO2-saturated brine at 1600 psi and 60 °C for 3 weeks. Postreaction characterizations included contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), BET surface area, ion chromatography, and porosity–permeability analysis. The untreated sample exhibited the highest mineral loss (0.40%) and the greatest porosity (2.36%) and permeability (29.53%) increases, indicating intense dissolution and pore network reorganization. Silica-treated rocks showed partial protection, with 0.26% mass loss and moderate enhancement in flow properties. In contrast, the oil-aged sample retained nearly all mass (0.03%), with minimal structural change, reflecting the stability of the hydrophobic barrier. SEM images confirmed distinct patterns of surface degradation aligned with wettability. Complementary aqueous ion analysis revealed that Ca2+and Mg2+release in untreated samples were 3-fold and 2-fold higher, respectively, than those in the nanoparticle-treated samples. Contact angles increased from 125.7° to 145.6° (untreated) and from 144.5° to 156.2° (silica-treated), indicating stronger water-wet behavior after CO2exposure. These findings highlight the importance of tailoring surface conditions to balance CO2trapping efficiency with rock integrity in carbonate geological storage systems.
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School of Mining and Geosciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Laboratory of Environmental Systems, National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
School of Mining and Geosciences
Laboratory of Environmental Systems
School of Engineering and Digital Sciences
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