Mineral changes in cement-sandstone matrices induced by biocementation

Abstract

Prevention of wellbore CO2 leakage is a critical component of any successful carbon capture, utilization, and storage program. Sporosarcina pasteurii is a bacterium that has demonstrated the potential ability to seal a compromised wellbore through the enzymatic precipitation of CaCO3. Here we investigate the growth of S. pasteurii in a synthetic brine that mimics the Illinois Basin and on Mt. Simon sandstone encased in Class H Portland cement under high pressure and supercritical CO2 (PCO2) conditions. The bacterium grew optimum at 30°C compared to 40°C under ambient and high pressure (10MPa) conditions; and growth was comparable in experiments at high PCO2. Sporosarcina pasteurii actively induced the biomineralization of CaCO3 polymorphs and MgCa(CO3)2 in both ambient and high pressure conditions as observed in electron microscopy. In contrast, abiotic (non-biological) samples exposed to CO2 resulted in the formation of surficial vaterite and calcite. The ability of S. pasteurii to grow under subsurface conditions may be a promising mechanism to enhance wellbore integrity.