A review on carbon dioxide sequestration in deep saline aquifers: Experiments, simulations, and field applications

Deep saline aquifers represents one of the most geologically promising solutions for large-scale carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) sequestration, boasting a global storage potential of up to 10,000 Gt of CO 2 , which far exceeds other subsurface options. This comprehensive review systematically examines recent advancements in aquifers-based CO 2 sequestration through experimental studies, simulations, pore-scale analyses, and field applications. Major trapping mechanisms, including structural, residual, solubility, and mineral trapping, are critically evaluated together with key factors affecting storage efficiency, injectivity, and long-term containment security. This study highlights the potential of CO 2 foams for enhancing storage efficiency through improved mobility control and sweep efficiency within saline aquifers as overlooked by previous reviews. Additionally, it provides a detailed pore-scale analysis of CO 2 -brine-rock interactions, providing new insights into multiphase flow dynamics and trapping mechanisms at the microscopic level, which are crucial for accurate reservoir-scale predictions. Moreover, it explore the emerging role of microbial processes in CO 2 sequestration, including their impact on mineralization and the security of long-term storage through biogeochemical interactions. In addition, the mechanical integrity of saline aquifers during CO 2 injections was discussed in details as not discussed in previous reviews. A dedicated discussion of salt precipitation is presented, including deposition stages, influencing factors such as brine chemistry and injection conditions, and mitigation strategies for maintaining injectivity. The review also identifies key challenges and research gaps for futures researches related to long-term storage prediction, coupled process modeling, and economic feasibility. By integrating insights from pore-scale mechanisms to field-scale applications, this work provides a multidisciplinary framework for advancing aquifers-based CO 2 sequestration as a safe and scalable climate mitigation technology.