TY - JOUR
T1 - Potential and challenges of foam-assisted CO2 sequestration
AU - Rossen, W. R.
AU - Farajzadeh, R.
AU - Hirasaki, G. J.
AU - Amirmoshiri, M.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Foam is a promising means to assist in the permanent, safe subsurface sequestration of CO2, whether in aquifers or as part of an enhanced-oil-recovery (EOR) process. Here we review the advantages demonstrated for foam that would assist CO2 sequestration, in particular sweep efficiency and residual trapping, and the challenges yet to be overcome. We also review the research and field-trial literature on CO2 foam sweep efficiency, capillary gas trapping in foam, issues involved in surfactant selection for CO2 foam applications, foam field trials, and the state of the art from laboratory and modelling research on CO2 foam properties, in order to present the prospects and challenges for foam-assisted CO2 sequestration. Challenges to foam-assisted CO2 sequestration include the following: 1) verifying the advantages indicated by laboratory research at the field scale 2) optimizing surfactant performance, while further reducing cost and adsorption if possible 3) long-term chemical stability of surfactant, and dilution of surfactant in the foam bank by flow of water. Residual gas must reside in place for decades, even if surfactant degrades or is diluted. 4) optimizing injectivity and sweep efficiency in the field-design strategy.
AB - Foam is a promising means to assist in the permanent, safe subsurface sequestration of CO2, whether in aquifers or as part of an enhanced-oil-recovery (EOR) process. Here we review the advantages demonstrated for foam that would assist CO2 sequestration, in particular sweep efficiency and residual trapping, and the challenges yet to be overcome. We also review the research and field-trial literature on CO2 foam sweep efficiency, capillary gas trapping in foam, issues involved in surfactant selection for CO2 foam applications, foam field trials, and the state of the art from laboratory and modelling research on CO2 foam properties, in order to present the prospects and challenges for foam-assisted CO2 sequestration. Challenges to foam-assisted CO2 sequestration include the following: 1) verifying the advantages indicated by laboratory research at the field scale 2) optimizing surfactant performance, while further reducing cost and adsorption if possible 3) long-term chemical stability of surfactant, and dilution of surfactant in the foam bank by flow of water. Residual gas must reside in place for decades, even if surfactant degrades or is diluted. 4) optimizing injectivity and sweep efficiency in the field-design strategy.
KW - CO storage
KW - Foam
KW - Surfactant alternating gas
KW - Surfactants
KW - Sweep efficiency
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85193857250&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.geoen.2024.212929
DO - 10.1016/j.geoen.2024.212929
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85193857250
SN - 2949-8910
VL - 239
JO - Geoenergy Science and Engineering
JF - Geoenergy Science and Engineering
M1 - 212929
ER -