Author Identifier (ORCID)
Nurudeen Yekeen: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6738-7893
Mujahid Ali: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9305-9188
Alireza Keshavarz: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8091-961X
Abstract
Millions of tons of CO2 are stored annually in geological formations in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, relying on caprock as a seal to prevent CO2 leakage. The wettability of caprock is crucial for its effectiveness, and can be altered by organic acids present in the storage media. The present study investigates the impact of stearic acid on the CO2 wettability of shale, along with the potential of alumina nanofluids to reverse this effect. Using contact angle measurements, X-ray diffraction, and other analytical methods, the study reveals that stearic acid increases the CO2 wettability of shale, making it more difficult to contain CO2 at higher pressures. Specifically, stearic acid-aged shale samples became CO2-wet at 16 MPa, thus leading to lower capillary entry pressure and reduced containment capability. However, treatment with alumina nanofluids improves the wettability of shale to intermediate levels, with a 0.25 wt% concentration yielding optimal results. This adjustment also results in positive CO2 column heights, thus suggesting better containment. The findings demonstrate that alumina nanofluids can enhance CO2 storage in caprocks by improving the wettability, thus offering a promising approach to the optimization of geological storage solutions for sustainable energy transitions.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
12-1-2026
Volume
13
Issue
1
Publication Title
International Journal of Coal Science and Technology
Publisher
Springer
School
School of Engineering
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Ali, M., Yekeen, N., Ali, M., Pal, N., Kobaisi, M. A., Keshavarz, A., & Hoteit, H. (2026). Nanofluid-assisted enhanced sealing containment of caprocks for efficient geological CO2 storage. International Journal of Coal Science & Technology, 13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40789-025-00846-6