Compaction Creep and Evolution of Transport Properties of Carbonate Fault Gouges During the Percolation of CO2‐Rich Fluids

Abstract

AbstractTo investigate the impact of CO2‐rich fluids on compaction behaviors and transport properties in carbonate fault zones, we conducted compaction‐coupled fluid flow experiments with CO2‐rich fluids percolating precompacted calcite aggregates. Our findings reveal distinct responses among samples subjected to different fluid conditions. Specifically, samples exposed to dry conditions exhibited negligible compaction strain, while those under wet‐closed conditions displayed relatively minor strain. In contrast, samples subjected to flow‐through conditions demonstrated significant compaction strain, with strain rates higher by 2–3 orders of magnitude than closed conditions due to enhanced pressure solution, subcritical cracking, and chemical dissolution. Strain rate, permeability, and grain size distribution exhibited spontaneous variations in response to fluid flow and compaction. Microstructures and mechanical and transport data suggest that deformation during the initial infiltration of CO2‐rich fluids was dominated by subcritical cracking, followed by pressure solution as grain size evolved, which resulted in compaction and reduced permeability. The persistent infiltration of CO2‐rich fluids further enhanced inhomogeneous dissolution‐precipitation with preferred dissolution channels serving as fluid pathways. The re‐precipitations may cement fault rocks and form low permeability seals, resulting in anisotropic fluid flow and localized fluid pressure in fault zones. As applied to nature, our results provide experimental evidence for the evolution of internal structures and transport behaviors, shedding important light on the mechanisms and sealing potential of carbonate faults in response to the infiltration of CO2‐rich fluids during the post‐seismic and inter‐seismic processes.