Experimental pore-scale analysis of carbon dioxide hydrate in sandstone via X-Ray micro-computed tomography

Carbon dioxide geo-sequestration (CGS) into sediments in the form of (gas) hydrates is one proposed method for reducing anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere and, thus reducing global warming and climate change. However, there is a serious lack of understanding of how such CO2 hydrate forms and exists in sediments. We thus imaged CO2 hydrate distribution in sandstone, and investigated the hydrate morphology and cluster characteristics via x-ray micro-computed tomography in 3D in-situ. A substantial amount of gas hydrate (similar to 17% saturation) was observed, and the stochastically distributed hydrate clusters followed power-law relations with respect to their size distributions and surface area-volume relationships. The layer-like hydrate configuration is expected to reduce CO2 mobility in the reservoir, and the smaller than expected hydrate surface-area/volume ratio will reduce methane production and CO2 storage capacities. These findings will aid large-scale implementation of industrial CGS projects via the hydrate route.