Paper contribution

Thermal Shock Sensitivity of Limestone Rock Under Rapid CO₂-Induced Cooling

Fawad Sheikh; Ákos Török

Proceedings
EUROCK 2026
Pages
593-598
Submitted
28 January 2026
Accepted
15 June 2026
Published
12 August 2026

Summary

Abstract

Carbon dioxide is the major cause of global warming. Reducing emissions or trapping carbon dioxide is a major challenge, with several emerging solutions. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a viable option for reducing carbon dioxide, either extracted directly from the atmosphere or captured from industrial processes. In CCS, CO₂ is collected from major emission sources and stored securely in deep geological formations such as depleted oil fields, deep coal seams, and deep saline aquifers. During the injection of CO₂, a transition from gas to liquid phase takes place, which is associated with rapid cooling. This sudden cooling results in internal stress in the rock environment. This process can lead to the fracturing of host rock or produce induced seismic activity and can reduce the safety and security of storage sites. There is very little research available in the literature regarding the mechanical behavior of rocks experiencing rapid cooling due to CO₂ injection. This study aims to investigate the sensitivity of limestone rocks that are subjected to rapid cooling generated by dry ice. Rock properties such as tensile and compressive strength are measured before and after the shock to quantify the rate of damage and changes in mechanical properties at low temperatures. Moreover, the cracking patterns and surface deterioration are also recorded through high-resolution imagery to evaluate the microstructural changes. This work will contribute to a better understanding of the performance of limestone reservoirs under thermally dynamic CO₂, which will help in the design and maintenance of the carbon storage sites in the long term.

Contributors

Authors

  1. Fawad Sheikh Department of Engineering Geology and Geotechnics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary, ORCID 0009-0009-2553-1821
  2. Ákos Török Department of Engineering Geology and Geotechnics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary, ORCID 0000-0002-5394-4510

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References

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