Browsing by Author "Phillips, Adrienne Janell"

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Biofilm-induced calcium carbonate precipitation : application in the subsurface
(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Engineering, 2013) Phillips, Adrienne Janell; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Robin Gerlach; Robin Gerlach , Ellen Lauchnor , Andrew C. Mitchell, Alfred Cunningham and Lee Spangler were co-authors of the article, 'Engineered applications of ureolytic biomineralization: a review' in the journal 'The Journal of bioadhesion and biofilm research' which is contained within this thesis.; Ellen Lauchnor, Joachim Eldring, Richard Esposito, Andrew Mitchell, Robin Gerlach, Alfred Cunningham and Lee Spangler were co-authors of the article, 'Potential CO 2 leakage reduction through biofilm-induced calcium carbonate precipitation' in the journal 'Environmental science and technology' which is contained within this thesis.; Joachim Eldring, Randy Hiebert, Ellen Lauchnor, Andrew Mitchell, Alfred Cunningham, Robin Gerlach and Lee Spangler were co-authors of the article, 'A meso-scale test vessel for the examination of high pressure processes: microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) treatment of hydraulic fractures' submitted to the journal 'Journal of petroleum science and engineering' which is contained within this thesis.
Subsurface leakage mitigation strategies using ureolytic biofilm- or microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) have been investigated for sealing high permeability or fractured regions. In the subsurface, this technology may help reduce unwanted preferential flow pathways thereby improving the storage security of geologically-stored carbon dioxide or sealing fractures caused by hydraulic fracturing. MICP has been researched for other applications, such as consolidating porous materials, improving construction materials and remediating environmental concerns. Injection strategies to control saturation conditions and region-specific precipitation were developed in sand-filled columns. Sporosarcina pasteurii biofilms were established and calcium and urea solutions were injected to promote mineralization. These injection strategies resulted in (1) promoting homogeneous distribution of CaCO 3 along the flow path, (2) minimizing near-injection point plugging, and (3) promoting efficient precipitation by reviving ureolytic activity. Additionally, a Darcy-scale model was calibrated and used to predict experimental results. The developed injection strategies were used to repeatedly seal a hydraulically fractured, 74 cm diameter Boyles Sandstone core under ambient pressures. To study meso-scale samples under relevant subsurface pressure conditions, a high pressure test vessel, rated to pressures of 96 bar, was developed. The hydraulically fractured sandstone core was loaded into the vessel and treated with MICP at 44 bar of confining pressure. After treatment, the permeability was reduced and the sandstone core withstood three times higher well bore pressures before re-fracturing compared to before MICP treatment. Additionally, MICP was promoted in three 2.5 cm diameter Berea Sandstone cores under 76 bar of pressure. The cores' permeabilities were reduced and their minimum capillary displacement pressures (MCDP) were increased. Exposure of the biomineralized cores to 24 hours of supercritical CO 2 did not negatively impact the permeability or MCDP achieved after mineralization. These studies suggest MICP may potentially seal and strengthen subsurface high permeability regions or fractures with the advantage that MICP technologies use low-viscosity fluids to penetrate small aperture pores that may not be reachable by traditional cement-based sealing technologies. These studies also point to the need for further research and development activities, particularly under subsurface relevant pressure conditions.