Hydrothermal Experimentation
Contacts :
► Aurélien Randi, technical manager
Tél. +33 (0)3 72 74 55 20
► Jérôme Sterpenich, scientific manager
Tél. +33 (0)3 72 74 56 59
The platform in video
Studying the reactivity and stability of phases in fluid-mineral-solution-gas-organic-matter systems requires the application of geochemical techniques. For this, GeoRessources provides a set of hot- and cold-joint autoclaves for sampling under controlled pressure and redox conditions. Experiments are performed in batch-type reactors of various sizes: welded gold cells and stainless-steel and titanium chambers (with or without sapphire windows) equipped for in situ Raman and pH measurement. A secure laboratory is available for experiments using hazardous gases (SOx, NOx, H2, H2S, CO). Specific autoclaves (IMAGES, MIRAGES, COTAGES) have been designed for gas-injection applications with flow and thermal-gradient controls. Miniaturisation has enabled us to develop microchemistry capillary techniques which allow us to control volumes, pressures and temperature for the measurement of chemical solubility, kinetics and reactivity at the micrometric scale.
Type
| System | Conditions | In situ measurement | Particularities | |
| Batch | Hydrothermal reactors (gold capsules) | Tmax = 700°C, Pmax = 7 kbar | Loading and gas analysis (HC, CO2, NO, H2S, SO2, CO) | |
| IMAGES | Tmax = 250°C, Pmax = 350 bar | Raman, pH | ||
| COTAGES | Tmax = 250°C, Pmax = 200 bar | Thermal gradient | ||
| 50 mL to 2L stainless steel and titanium autoclaves | Tmax = 400°C, Pmax = 2 kbar | Raman, pH | Rolsi gas micro-sampling for micro-GC analysis | |
| Stainless steel and hastelloy autoclaves with sapphire window | Tmax = 200°C, Pmax = 300 bar | Raman | ||
| Flow | MIRAGES | Tmax = 250°C, Pmax = 350 bar | Raman | Injection of supercritical CO2 |
| MIRAGES2 | Tmax = 100°C, Pmax = 250 bar | Raman, pH | Injection of CO2 saturated brine | |
| Micro-fluid | Silica capillaries | Tmax = 400°C, Pmax = 2 kbar | Raman | Studies of dangerous gas under extreme conditions |
Main applications :
- geological storage of acid gases
- storage of radioactive waste
- petroleum generation through artificial maturation of the source-rock
- petroleum thermal stability
- transfer of metallic elements in the Earth’s crust.