Research Advances, Maturation, and Challenges of Hydrate-Based CO2 Sequestration in Porous Media

Abstract

Hydrate-based CO2 storage/sequestration (HBCS) technique could potentially fulfill the mandate of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 toward efficient and safe storage of CO2 through successful lab-scale experimentation in overcoming the existing storage capacity challenges. In this article, we carefully reviewed and discussed the reported fundamental lab-scale experimental attempts to successfully store CO2 as hydrate in sediments. The CO2 hydrate formation thermodynamics, kinetics, and mechanism insights in porous media are critically discussed to reveal the state of the art and the current challenges facing the implementation of the HBCS technique and provide guidelines and pathways toward a high CO2 storage capacity. In addition, factors affecting CO2 hydrate formation and hydrate formation mechanisms in various types of porous media are discussed. Factors that mainly control the CO2 storage capacity in porous media are driving force, porosity, capillary effect, gas and liquid permeability, particle size, and surface area. However, mass transfer limitation, potential storage site, CO2 transportation, CO2 injection technique, cost, environmental constraints, and CO2 stability are the main challenges toward the technological readiness of the HBCS. The findings in this work provide useful guidelines and pathways which could lead to an increase in CO2 storage capacity as hydrate for cleaner earth in the future.