Unexpected swelling effects of CO2 on clays: Good or bad news for CO2 storage integrity and leak mit

Unexpected swelling effects of CO2 on clays: Good or bad news for CO2 storage integrity and leak mi

Publieke samenvatting / Public summary

Aanleiding
Results obtained in CATO-2 showed that CO2 causes swelling of certain kinds of clays (smectitic clays) in amounts similar to swelling effects observed in coal.

Doelstelling
The project will demonstrate whether or not these effects will render fractures in clay-rich caprocks and fault zones self-sealing to CO2, as seen when CO2 is injected into coal seams, and whether smectitic clay slurries have potential for CO2 leak mitigation.