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Updated: Aug 29, 2025

A Uniaxial Compression Experiment with CO2-Bearing Coal Using a Visualized and Constant-Volume Gas-Solid Coupling Test System
Published on: June 12, 2019
Carbon dioxide-enhanced metal release from kerogen.
1Geochemistry Department, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 87185, USA. taho@sandia.gov.
Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) injection during oil extraction may release heavy metals from kerogen. This finding impacts produced water quality and offers potential for critical metal recovery from organic-rich formations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Petroleum Engineering
Background:
- Heavy metals in produced water from oil/gas extraction pose environmental risks.
- Supercritical CO2 (scCO2) is explored for fracking and carbon sequestration, potentially altering reservoir properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of scCO2 injection on metal desorption from kerogen.
- To assess the implications for produced water quality and metal recovery.
Main Methods:
- Utilized molecular dynamics simulations to model scCO2-kerogen interactions.
- Analyzed the potential for physically adsorbed metal desorption.
Main Results:
- scCO2 injection can induce desorption of physically adsorbed metals from kerogen.
- This desorption impacts produced water composition.
- Potential for enhanced in-situ metal recovery from shale and coal.
Conclusions:
- scCO2 injection influences metal partitioning in reservoirs.
- This process presents both challenges for water management and opportunities for critical metal extraction.
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