Development of a hydrothermal multi input flow-through a water-gas-rock reactor for geothermal non-condensable gas injection reaction testing

Abstract

A flow-through multi-input chemical-water-gas-rock reactor for geothermal non-condensable gas (NCG) reinjection testing is in the final stages of the commissioning process at The University of Auckland. This apparatus can react simulated geothermal brines with gas supplied via a pressurised dissolution column and up to two secondary chemical inputs supplied via high-pressure, low-flow metering pumps with rock or any other solid material at temperatures up to 230oC and pressure up to 30 bar (gauge). At temperature below 155oC, this apparatus can constantly monitor solution pH via a high pressure and temperaturerated pH electrode. An additional feature of this system is the ability to obtain grab samples at reaction temperature and pressure, without the need for a sample cooling, which has the
advantage of retaining all components of the reaction solution in the sample, which may otherwise precipitate and deposit within cooling and pressure regulation equipment. Although this equipment is initially intended to test methods of NCG injection into geothermal reservoir rock, this apparatus also has significant potential to simulate many other natural and industrial hydrothermal and geothermal physicochemical processes.