pilotSTRATEGY project 2021-2026: “CO2 Geological Pilots in Strategic Territories”

[EN] The pilotSTRATEGY (2021-2026) is investigating geological CO2 storage sites in industrial regions to support development of large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS). It is focused on deep saline aquifers–porous rock formations filled with brine several kilometres below ground – which promise a large capacity for storing captured CO2. The goal of the characterisation is to assess the site’s containment, injectivity, capacity, integrity, hydrodynamics, and monitorability in order to ensure safe and permanent storage of CO2. PilotSTRATEGY covers the initial stages of project development up to the pre-final investment decision (pre-FID), regulatory approval and permitting of storage, and applied on selected structures of Paris Basin in France, the Lusitanian Basin in Portugal and the Ebro Basin in Spain, and in lower detail, in West Macedonia in Greece and Upper Silesia in Poland.The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme (10.1 million Euros, No. 101022664).Peer reviewe

Qualitative and quantitative changes in detrital reservoir rocks caused by CO2–brine–rock interactions during first injection phases (Utrillas sandstones, northern Spain)

The aim of this article is to describe and interpret qualitative and quantitative changes at rock matrix scale of lower–upper Cretaceous sandstones exposed to supercritical (SC) CO2 and brine. The effects of experimental injection of CO2-rich brine during the first injection phases were studied at rock matrix scale, in a potential deep sedimentary reservoir in northern Spain (Utrillas unit, at the base of the Cenozoic Duero Basin). Experimental CO2-rich brine was exposed to sandstone in a reactor chamber under realistic conditions of deep saline formations (P 7:8MPa, T 38 C and 24 h exposure time). After the experiment, exposed and non-exposed equivalent sample sets were compared with the aim of assessing possible changes due to the effect of the CO2-rich brine exposure. Optical microscopy (OpM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) aided by optical image analysis (OIA) were used to compare the rock samples and get qualitative and quantitative information about mineralogy, texture and pore network distribution. Complementary chemical analyses were performed to refine the mineralogical information and to obtain whole rock geochemical data. Brine composition was also analyzed before and after the experiment. The petrographic study of contiguous sandstone samples (more external area of sample blocks) before and after CO2- rich brine injection indicates an evolution of the pore network (porosity increase 2 %). It is probable that these measured pore changes could be due to intergranular quartz matrix detachment and partial removal from the rock sample, considering them as the early features produced by the CO2-rich brine. Nevertheless, the whole rock and brine chemical analyses after interaction with CO2-rich brine do not present important changes in the mineralogical and chemical configuration of the rock with respect to initial conditions, ruling out relevant precipitation or dissolution at these early stages to rock-block scale. These results, simulating the CO2 injection near the injection well during the first phases (24 h) indicate that, in this environment where CO2 enriches the brine, the mixture principally generates local mineralogical/textural readjustments on the external area of the samples studied. The application of OpM, SEM and optical image analysis have allowed an exhaustive characterization of the sandstones studied. The procedure followed, the porosity characterization and the chemical analysis allowed a preliminary approximation of the CO2–brine–rock interactions and could be applied to similar experimental injection tests.Unidad de Oviedo, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaDepartamento de Geología, Universidad de Oviedo, Españ

Evaluation of Slope Stability in an Urban Area as a Basis for Territorial Planning: a Case Study

22 p. - Supplementary Materials available online at https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app11115013/s1.[EN] Slope stability is determined by pre-conditioning and triggering factors. The evaluation of the stability by scientific criteria provides crucial input into land-use planning and development. This work aimed to evaluate the slope stability of ‘Las Cabras’ hill (Duran, Ecuador) through geological and geotechnical analysis and a susceptibility assessment that allowed the definition of areas potentially susceptible to landslide and detachment for land planning recommendations. The methodology included (i) analysis of background information about the study area; (ii) fieldwork, sampling and laboratory tests; (iii) assessment of susceptibility to landslides and detachment through a theoretical-practical evaluation (using suggestions by various authors); (iv) a safety factor assessment employing the simplified Bishop method; and (v) analysis of the relationship between susceptibility and stability. Sixteen geomechanical stations were evaluated. Of these, seven stations are characterised as category III (medium susceptibility), six stations as category IV (high susceptibility) and three stations as category V (very high susceptibility). According to the susceptibility zoning map, 58.09% of the total area (36.36 Ha) is in the high to very high susceptibility category. The stability analysis based on 16 critical profiles shows that three of these profiles have safety factor values of less than one (0.86, 0.82 and 0.76, respectively), and two profiles have values close to one (1.02 and 1.00). The northern area is conditioned mainly by a vertical slope with an outcrop of fractured and weathered sandstones, thereby favouring rockfall. The landslide vulnerability in the case of the southern zone is principally conditioned by the fact that the slope and dip are parallel. The described characterisation and susceptibility analysis provide a basis for security measures and territorial planning.This research was funded by “Registro del Patrimonio Geológico y Minero y su incidencia en la defensa y preservación de la geodiversidad en Ecuador” (Registry of Geological and Mining Heritage and its impact on the defense and preservation of geodiversity in Ecuador); CIPAT-01-2018”; and “Studies and proposals for the stabilization of Las Cabras hill.” - This work is based on previous initiatives sponsored by the Red Minería XXI (CYTED: 407310RT0402, IGME).Peer reviewe

Laboratory Experiments on Early-Phase Supercritical CO2-Brine- Rock Interactions: applications in Carbon Capture and Storage Projects

[EN] This work describes the laboratory experiments of exposition of rocks (eg. limestone, sandstone, gabbro) to supercritical (SC) CO2 conducted in the autoclave system of the IGME, in the framework of different projects (i.e. CO2 Pore Plan Nacional, Pilot UE Project, InCarbon Portugal 2020).Peer reviewe

Caracterización mineralógica y petrográfica de las vetas Vizcaya, Octubrina y Gabi del yacimiento aurífero epitermal Zaruma-Portovelo, Ecuador

Texto en español, con resumen y palabras claves en inglés y español, y con versión resumida en inglés.La aplicación de las técnicas de microscopía óptica y microsonda electrónica (EMPA) constituye una importante fuente de información en el establecimiento de secuencias evolutivas de fases minerales (paragénesis) y en el apoyo para control y mejora de procesos mineralúrgicos. En este trabajo, se realizó una caracterización mineralógica y petrográfica de tres vetas (Vizcaya, Octubrina y Gabi) pertenecientes al yacimiento epitermal Zaruma-Portovelo (Ecuador). El objetivo principal de este trabajo se centró en la caracterización de las vetas mediante técnicas microscópicas y de microanálisis y, principalmente, en correlacionar la información obtenida con las características geológicas-mineras del yacimiento estudiado. Además, se describió la sistemática desarrollada como un método adecuado para la caracterización y conocimiento básico de áreas mineralizadas. La caracterización desarrollada mediante microscopía óptica (reflexión y transmisión) y EMPA se complementó mediante microscopía electrónica de barrido, análisis óptico de imágenes y difracción de rayos X. Los resultados obtenidos permitieron: i) la identificación y cuantificación de oro, esfalerita, calcopirita, galena, pirita, hematites, calcosina, covellite y tetraedrita en las probetas pulidas de las vetas estudiadas; ii) la caracterización de las asociaciones minerales presentes en las muestras como complemento a estudios previos de la paragénesis mineral del yacimiento y orientativos en la geometalurgia del yacimiento. La caracterización mineralógica y petrográfica de las menas representa la base del conocimiento para comprender la caracterización del depósito mineral y, complementariamente, mejorar el procesamiento del mineral de interés. = Ore petrography through optical microscopy and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) can be applied to the characterization of ore deposits, allowing accurate and representative information on the evolutionary sequences of mineral phases (paragenesis). In this studywork mineralogical and petrographical characteristics of three veins (Vizcaya, Octubrina and Gabi) of the Zaruma-Portovelo hydrothermal deposit (Ecuador) have been studied. The main objective of this research was to identify and quantify the ore minerals present in the polished section studied by optical microscopy and EPM, and to correlate the data obtained with the previously defined paragenetic evolution. In addition, the systematics we describe is revealed as an appropriate method for the characterization and basic knowledge of the mineralized areas. The mineralogical characterization was completed by scanning electron microscopy, optical image analysis and X-ray diffraction. The results have provided us with allowed: i) the identification and quantification of gold, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, pyrite, hematite, chalcocite, covellite and tetrahedrite in the polished sections of the veins studied; ii) the characterization of the mineral associations as a complement to the previous studies of the mineral paragenesis of the deposit and indicative in the geometallurgy of the deposit. The mineralogical and ore petrographical characterization of the ores represent the basis of knowledge to understand the characterization of the mineral deposit and, in addition, improve the processing of the mineral of interest.Unidad de Oviedo, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaCentro de Investigación y Proyectos Aplicados a las Ciencias de la Tierra, ESPOL Polytechnic University, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, ESPOL Polytechnic Universit, EcuadorGeo-Recursos y Aplicaciones GIGA, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Ecuado

Geoenergy Group

[EN] One of the key elements that have allowed the astonishing socio-cultural and economic development achieved in Europe during the last part of the 20th century is the use of fossil fuels as energy source. However, it has been proved that these types of energy sources affect the global climate and increased the amount of pollutants in nature. Our society is now immersed in a global and sustainable energy transition period that will entail the use of clean energy. The GeoEnergy group works on this direction with the creation of geological and technological knowledge on clean energy, both from the subsurface sources such as geothermal energy, and the search, characterization, and evaluation of geological storage sites for energy (H2, CH4 or compressed air) and greenhouse gases (CO2).Peer reviewe