Recent Research Results of Physical Trapping Mechanism in CO2-brine System

Understanding the physical trapping mechanisms is important to design successful CO2 storage projects. The CO2 displacement processes have been investigated extensively by numerical modeling and laboratory experiments. We review the recent research results of physical capture mechanism in CO2-brine system with representative approaches in aquifers. Physical capture of CO2 in brine aquifers is commonly divided into two categories: the stratigraphic and structural trapping as well as the capillary trapping. Considering the former, the review has identified the lithology and the stress state within the caprock for CO2 capture. Saturation, interfacial tension, flow rate, gravity, viscous and wettability in the capillary trapping system are also covered.