Geochemical interactions of Al2O3-based proppants with highly saline geothermal brines at simulated in situ temperature conditions

Proppants are hard spherules that are commonly used for the stimulation of wells in the oil and gas industry, but they are not widely applied in geothermal reservoirs. High-strength corundum proppants were used at the Groß Schönebeck geothermal site. The long-term reaction of these corundum (Al2O3)-based compounds under geothermal reservoir conditions (high temperature and high salinity) could result in their dissolution and the eventual re-precipitation of secondary Al–Si minerals, thereby clogging the pores of the reservoir and severely reducing its permeability. We studied the chemical stabilities of two types of proppants (resin-coated and uncoated) under different reservoir-like conditions over time. In a batch experiment, proppants were placed into Teflon autoclaves containing either natural brines from Groß Schönebeck or synthetic brines. They were kept at ∼2 bar and at either 150 °C or 25 °C for 12, 28, 42 or 80 days in NaCl and CaCl2 brines. The resulting precipitates are mainly composed of Na and Ca, with traces of Si and Fe. Up to 153 mg/L of Si were measured in the solutions, with occasional Al (normally <1 mg/L) and no Fe. The metal release was not affected by the resin coating. The high silica release during the experiment indicates some chemical instability of the proppants, which depends strongly on the temperature and salinity of the reservoir fluid.

► We studied the reactivity of manufactured corundum based proppants.
► We examined the dissolution in hot brines at 150 °C of Al, Si and Fe.
► Si, occasionally Al and no Fe dissolved from the proppants.
► The dissolved cations may precipitate in the reservoir causing scaling problems.