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Section Contents
Proposals
Current proposals
STADIA II
The aim of this follow-up project is to use the insight gained from the Stadia I project to investigate the sealing properties of sandstones further. In particular we will investigate the role of clay content and the presence of pre-existing fractures on fault permeability, in contrast to the clay-poor, and intact rock specimens investigated in STADIA I. We are currently seeking six industrial sponsors to make the work programme viable. If you are interested as a potential sponsor of the project, a full proposal can be obtained from bryne@glg.ed.ac.uk.
Experimental precipitation of calcium by CO2 degassing.
Carbonate precipitation from pore fluids is a common cause of permeability change in sediments, including reservoir rocks. One proposed mechanism for calcium carbonate supersaturation is a decrease of CO2 partial pressure in the fluid. The aim of this proposal, recently submitted to the NERC ROPA scheme, is to build a novel flow apparatus capable of controlling degassing of fluids to 700 bar and 100oC, using high-permeability fine-bore tubing. Changes in CO2 saturation and carbonate precipitation will be monitored by liquid chromatography and by ion probe analysis respectively. For further information please contact selphick@glg.ed.ac.uk.
Sandstone diagenesis: Mica-assisted dissolution of quartz.
So far we have investigated the dissolution of quartz/ feldspar aggregates under diagenetic conditions. However, there is considerable field evidence that the presence of clay particles has a significant influence in promoting quartz dissolution. Until now, it has not been possible to verify this in the laboratory. Accordingly, we are currently seeking funds from oil industry sources to quantify the effect of mica on quartz dissolution rates in powders, using the same experimental apparatus used in the experiments above on fault diagenesis. The aim will be to quantify the additional effect of mica particles on dissolution rates, using our previous results as a control. For further information please contact ian.main@ed.ac.uk.