This is a Computed Tomography (CT) dataset of an experiment mimicking a scCO2 plume underlying a sealing caprock under reservoir temperature and pressure conditions. A laminated silty mudstone was placed in a core holder at a 24.13 MPa (3500 psi) confining pressure and 26.68 MPa (3000 psi) pore pressure, and was heated to 50°C (122°F). CO2 was injected into the bottom of the sample and a pressure differential along the core was increased from 3.45 MPa to 28.68 MPa (500 to 3000 psi). The experimental progress was monitored using a NorthStar Industrial M5000 CT scanner.

The sample fractured internally due to a pump failure during ramp-up to experimental conditions, but despite this additional fracturing no signs of scCO2 imbibition into the sealing rock were observed. This further confirms the ability of low-permeability caprock to provide the fundamental flow resistance to halt the upward migration of CO2 from injection reservoirs due to buoyancy.

This research is a collaboration between ExxonMobil and NETL researchers and was presented at GHGT-17 in Calgary, Canada, October 20-24 2024.