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CT characterization of wellbore cement degradation under geologic CO2 storage conditions
  • +3
  • Liwei Zhang,
  • Yan Wang,
  • Kaiyuan Mei,
  • Manguang Gan,
  • Xiaojuan Fu,
  • Sinan Liu
Liwei Zhang
Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:zlw_85@foxmail.com

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Yan Wang
Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Kaiyuan Mei
Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Manguang Gan
Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Xiaojuan Fu
Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Sinan Liu
Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Abstract

This presentation demonstrates a CT scanning and image analysis workflow to characterize wellbore cement degradation under corrosive geologic CO2 storage (GCS) conditions. The workflow includes 1) acquisition of raw CT images of the cement sample (before and after exposure to CO2); 2) application of rigid registration to align raw CT images; 3) acquisition of grayscale intensity difference images; 4) application of noise filtering technique to obtain images with good quality; 5) acquisition of 3D pore structure change of the cement sample after CO2 exposure from grayscale intensity difference images, showing degradation of wellbore cement. To demonstrate an application of the workflow, an experiment of reaction between CO2 and wellbore cement under corrosive GCS conditions was conducted and the wellbore cement samples used in the experiment went through aforementioned CT scanning and image analysis procedures. CT image analysis results demonstrate a region with increased porosity in the exterior of the cement sample (Zone 1) and a region with decreased porosity next to Zone 1 due to CaCO3 precipitation (Zone 2). Next to Zone 2, a region with increased porosity due to Ca(OH)2 and C-S-H dissolution (Zone 3) was observed. In summary, this study proves feasibility to use 3D CT scanning and CT image analysis techniques to investigate CO2-induced degradation of wellbore cement.