Reservoir characterization of a CO2 storage aquifer: The Upper Triassic Stuttgart Formation in the Northeast German Basin

Ketzin, in the Northeast German Basin (NEGB), is the site for pilot injection of CO₂ (CO₂SINK project) into a saline aquifer (the Upper Triassic Stuttgart Formation) situated at a depth of about 630–700 m. This paper reports the baseline characterization of the reservoir formation based on new core material and well-logs obtained from one injection well and two observations wells, drilled at a distance from 50 m to 100 m from each other. The reservoir is lithologically heterogeneous and made up by fluvial sandstones and siltstones interbedded with mudstones showing remarkable differences in porosity. The thickest sandstone units are associated with channel sandstone, whose thickness varies over short lateral distances. In-depth petrographic, mineralogical, mineral-chemical, and whole-rock geochemical analysis were performed focusing on the sandstone intervals, which display the best reservoir properties for CO₂ injection. The dominantly fine-grained and well to moderately-well sorted, immature sandstones classify as feldspathic litharenites and lithic arkoses. Quartz (22–43 wt.%), plagioclase (19–32 wt.%), and K-feldspar (5–13 wt.%) predominate mineralogically. Muscovite plus illite and mixed-layer minerals are omnipresent (4–13 wt.%). Quartz, feldspar, as well as meta-sedimentary and volcanic rock fragments comprise the most abundant detrital components, which often are rimmed by thin, early diagenetic coatings of ferric oxides, and locally of clay minerals. Feldspar grains may be unaltered and optically clear, partially to completely dissolved, partially altered to sheet silicates (mainly illite), or albitized. Analcime and anhydrite constitute the most widespread, often spatially associated pore-filling cement minerals. Authigenic dolomite, barite, and coelestine is minor. The percentage of cements ranges in total from about 5 vol.% to 32 vol.%. Except of samples intensely cemented by anhydrite and analcime, total porosities of the sandstones range from 13% to 26%. The fraction of intergranular porosity varies between 12% and 21%. About 1–5% porosity has been generated by dissolution of detrital plagioclase, K-feldspar, and volcanic rock fragments. The comparatively large modal abundance of feldspars, micas, chlorite, clay minerals, Fe–Ti-oxides, and analcime account for the richness in Ti, Al, Fe, Mg, Na, and K, and the paucity in Si, of the Stuttgart sandstones relative to mature sandstones. Altogether, these sandstones are comparatively rich in minerals that may potentially react with the injected CO₂.