Exploring the Potential of Sub-Surface Biomineralisation During CO2 Injection and Storage

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:Provides a comprehensive overview of biomineralisation mechanisms and knowledge gaps for CCUS researchers.

🏢実務担当者:Offers insights into potential bio-based solutions for well remediation and CO2 trapping enhancement.

🏛政策担当者:Highlights an emerging technology that could improve storage security, informing R&D funding and regulatory frameworks.

Microbial activity and subsurface bioprecipitation of carbonate minerals in fractures and pore plugging, to alter reservoir geochemistry, permeability and flow, could have a positive role to play in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). The ability to seal fractures and reduce permeability in a controlled manner can be used to bioremediate existing wells to maximise oil and gas production or to prepare them for CCUS. In addition, bioprecipitation of carbonate minerals during subsurface carbon dioxide ( CO2) injection and storage can aid cement stabilisation and increase CO2 trapping thereby reducing potential for CO2 leaks This study reviews existing subsurface microbial activity, biomineralization reactions and the mechanisms that are prevalent for bioremediation of wells, stabilising cements and increasing CO2 trapping and reducing leakage during CO2 injection and storage. A key microbial process involved in biomineralisation is ureolysis, in which urease enzymes hydrolyse urea into ammonium and carbonate ions, resulting in an increase in pH which promotes precipitation of carbonate minerals. However, other enzymes like carbonic anhydrase, that catalyse the hydration of CO2 into bicarbonate (HCO3− ), also produce carbonates and there are other processes which produce other biominerals like apatite and iron oxides A detailed understanding of the reaction rates (kinetics), quantity (mass) and crystalline morphology (shape and structure) of bio-precipitated minerals is needed to optimise the design of any remedial solution for controlled bioprecipitation of minerals to plug pores, seal fractures or trap CO2. The design of any remedial treatment will be dependent upon well completion type and subsurface conditions namely, temperature, pressure, rock mineralogy and permeability, formation water salinity and composition of the CO2 injected The impact of subsurface conditions, including the composition of injected CO2 on microbial community composition, proliferation and biomineralisation will be discussed which will include results from laboratory and field studies for CO2 injection. Indeed, laboratory studies have revealed that microbial growth under supercritical CO2 conditions is challenged by acidic brine pH and elevated CO2 partial pressures, which can disrupt cellular membranes and limit bacterial proliferation. However, the presence of minerals such as calcite, dolomite, feldspars and clay minerals can buffer these stresses and sustain microbial communities to enable biofilm formation and bioprecipitation of carbonate minerals to increase CO2 trapping in the reservoir.

• semanticscholar https://doi.org/10.2118/231806-msfirst seen 2026-05-23 05:55:04 · last seen 2026-05-27 05:04:36