CO₂ Enhanced Water Recovery in the Junggar Basin

Louis St Laurent high school, Edmonton, Alberta T6J 0X8, Canada

^* Corresponding Author’s Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The Junggar Basin, located in an arid area with scarce groundwater resources, is a crucial traditional energy supply region in western China. CO₂-enhanced brine recovery (CO₂-EWR) can both store CO₂ on a large scale and effectively exploit brine resources, and it has been adopted as an important carbon emission reduction technology in the Junggar Basin. This paper systematically analyzes and summarizes the application of CO₂ sequestration combined with water extraction strategy in this region. Key insights include: 1) The area features high-permeability conditions suitable for carbon sequestration, which can further increase CO₂ storage capacity and mitigate overpressure-induced risks, and meanwhile the low-permeability caprock prevents leakage risks; 2) Saline aquifers in the Junggar Basin are primarily composed of loose rock types like gravel and medium-coarse sand, with low cementation strength and poor mechanical stability. Under the combined effects of high permeability and weak mechanical strength, fluid flow intensifies shear and erosion on rock matrix particles, leading to particle detachment and migration, consequently causing sand production during CO₂-EWR implementation; 3) The mechanisms governing particle detachment during CO₂-EWR remain unclear, necessitating the related experimental and theoretical studies. Particularly, extensive experimental research should be conducted in conjunction with the aquifer lithology and hydrogeological conditions to understand the relevant processes and determine the associated influencing factors and critical conditions.