Systems and Methods for Enhancing Rates of In Situ Carbonation of Peridotite

• US 20100324351A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Kelemen, Peter B., Matter, Juerg M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,524,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 588/315
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/402 of magnesium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/404 of calcium
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/602 Oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/106 Silica or silicates
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/62 Carbon oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/60 Preparation of carbonates or bicarbonates in general of percarbonates C01B15/10; of specific carbonates or bicarbonates according to the cation C01B-C01G
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 33/22 Magnesium silicates
• CPC Class Codes: C01F 5/24 Magnesium carbonates
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0064 Carbon dioxide sequestration storing fluids in porous layers B65G5/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/151 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, e.g. CO2

Abstract

Methods and systems for enhancing rates of in situ carbonation of peridotite are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods and systems include the following: fracturing a volume of peridotite in situ; heating the volume of peridotite in situ; injecting carbon dioxide into the volume of peridotite in situ; and forming carbonate in situ with the volume of peridotite and the carbon dioxide.

Claims

1. A method of enhancing rates of in situ carbonation of peridotite, said method comprising:

fracturing a volume of peridotite in situ;

injecting carbon dioxide into said volume of peridotite in situ; and

forming carbonate in situ with said volume of peridotite and said carbon dioxide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein fracturing includes one of drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating said volume of peridotite in situ.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein heating includes one or more of injecting heated fluids into said volume of peridotite and using heat from said volume of peridotite.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein heating includes heating said volume of peridotite to at least about 185 degrees Celsius.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said carbon dioxide has a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting includes injecting said carbon dioxide having a pressure of about 300 bars at a flow rate of about 0.04 meters per second.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein forming carbonate is an exothermic reaction thereby generating a heat source, said heat source heating said volume of peridotite in situ.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said volume of peridotite is located at a depth beneath a body of water, said depth being about 3 to 6 kilometers.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a rate of carbonation of said volume of peridotite and performing additional fracturing of said volume of peridotite when said rate is below a predetermined level.

11. A system for sequestering carbon dioxide via in situ carbonation of peridotite, said system comprising:

a fracturing module for fracturing a volume of peridotite in situ;

a carbon dioxide injection module including a carbon dioxide source and means for injecting carbon dioxide from said carbon dioxide source into said volume of peridotite in situ; and

a control module for monitoring a temperature of said volume of peridotite, for monitoring a pressure and temperature of said carbon dioxide, and for monitoring a rate of carbonation of said volume of peridotite.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said fracturing module includes means for drilling and hydraulic fracturing said volume of peridotite in situ.

13. The system of claim 11, said heating module comprising:

a heating module for heating said volume of peridotite in situ.

14. The system of claim 13, said heating module comprising:

a volume of fluid;

a heat source for heating said volume of fluid thereby creating a heated volume of fluid;

a conduit formed between said heated volume of fluid and said volume of peridotite; and

a pump for pumping said heated volume of fluid to said volume of peridotite.

15. The system of claim 11, said carbon dioxide injection module comprising:

a conduit between said carbon dioxide source and said volume of peridotite; and

a compressor for compressing said carbon dioxide source thereby increasing a pressure of said carbon dioxide source.

16. The system of claim 13, said control module comprising:

temperature sensors configured for measuring temperatures of said volume of peridotite and said carbon dioxide source;

a pressure sensor configured for measuring a pressure of said carbon dioxide source;

carbonation sensors configured for measuring said rate of carbonation of said volume of peridotite; and

an analysis sub-module for analyzing data generated by said temperature, pressure, and carbonation sensors, wherein said fracturing module, said heating module, and said carbon dioxide injection module are controlled based on said analysis of said data generated by said temperature, pressure, and carbonation sensors.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said control module directs said fracturing module to perform additional fracturing of said volume of peridotite when said rate of carbonation is below a predetermined level.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said control module discontinues operation of heating module when heat from a carbonation reaction of said volume of peridotite is capable of maintaining a temperature of about 185 degrees Celsius in said volume of peridotite.

19. A method of enhancing rates of in situ carbonation of peridotite, said method comprising:

fracturing a volume of peridotite in situ, said volume of peridotite being located beneath a volume of fluid, said volume of fluid having a top surface and said volume of fluid including dissolved carbon dioxide;

heating a first amount of said volume of fluid adjacent said top surface and adjacent said volume of peridotite;

after heating, injecting said first amount into said volume of peridotite; and

forming carbonate in situ with a first amount of said volume of peridotite and said dissolved carbon dioxide in said first amount of said volume of fluid, wherein forming carbonate in situ generates a heat source.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

controlling convection of a second amount of said volume of fluid adjacent said top surface into said volume of peridotite, wherein said second amount of said volume of fluid has a temperature equivalent to about an ambient temperature prior to convection;

substantially using said heat source, maintaining a temperature of said volume of peridotite of about 185 degrees Celsius; and

forming carbonate in situ with a second amount of said volume of peridotite and said dissolved carbon dioxide in said second amount of said volume of fluid.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

monitoring a rate of carbonation of said volume of peridotite and performing additional fracturing of said volume of peridotite when said rate is below a predetermined level.