Natural CO2 migrations in the South-Eastern Basin of France : implications for the CO2 storage in sedimentary formations ; Contribution à la connaissance des migrations de CO2 naturel dans le Bassin du Sud-Est de la France : enseignements pour le stockage géologique du CO2 dans les réservoirs sédimentaires

Study of natural CO2 analogues brings key informations on the factors governing the long term stability/instability of future anthropogenic CO2 storages. The main objective of this work, through the study of cores from V.Mo.2 well crosscutting the Montmiral natural reservoir (Valence Basin, France), is to trace the deep CO2 migrations in fractures. Petrographic, geochemical and microthermometric studies of the V.Mo.2 cores were thus performed in order: 1) to describe the reservoir filling conditions and 2) to detect possible CO2-leakage through the sediments overlying the reservoir. Fluid inclusions from the Paleozoic crystalline basement record the progressive unmixing of a hot homogeneous aquo-carbonic fluid. The Montmiral reservoir was therefore probably feeded by a CO2-enriched gas component at the Late Cretaceous-Paleogene. The study of the sedimentary column in V.Mo.2 well, demonstrates that the CO2 did not migrate towards the surface through the thick marly unit (Domerian-Middle Oxfordian). These marls have acted as an impermeable barrier that prevented the upward migration of fluids. Two main stages of fluid circulation have been recognized: 1) an ante- Callovian one related to the tethysian extension 2) a tertiary stage during which the upper units underwent a karstification, with CO2 leakage related but which remained confined into the deeper parts of the Valence Basin. Since the Paleogene, the Montmiral reservoir has apparently remained stable, despite the pyrenean and alpine orogeneses. This is mainly due to the efficient seal formed by the thick marly levels and also to the local structuration in faulted blocks which apparently acted as efficient lateral barriers. ; Le stockage géologique du CO2 est un des enjeux scientifiques majeurs envisagés pour contrôler le réchauffement climatique lié aux gaz à effet de serre. Le stockage en domaine sédimentaire nécessite une connaissance des facteurs stabilisant/destabilisant les réservoirs, qui peut être apportée par l’étude d’analogues naturels. ...