Biomineralization is an emerging biotechnology for subsurface engineering applications like remediating leaky wellbores. The process relies on ureolysis to induce precipitation of calcium carbonate in undesired flow paths. In geologic storage of CO₂, there is a potential for leakage and low pH conditions, thus, ureolysis-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (UICP) was tested at field scale to seal a channel in the wellbore cement annulus in the presence of CO₂-affected brine. Conventional oil field methods were used to deliver UICP-promoting fluids downhole to the treatment zone approximately 1000 feet (305 m) below ground surface (bgs). Over 4 days, 242 L (64 gal) of heat-treated Sporosarcina pasteurii cultures (22 bailers) and 329 L (87 gal) of urea – calcium chloride solution (30 bailers) were injected. The UICP treatment resulted in a 94% reduction of injectivity and ultrasonic well logging showed a noticeable increase in the percentage of solids in the channel outside the casing, including more than 30 m (100 ft) above the injection point. Subsequent well logging 11 months after the field demonstration showed that a significant portion of the new solids remained but the seal was compromised following sustained pumping. The results of this experiment suggest that UICP can be promoted in the presence of CO₂-affected brine to seal leakage pathways. Additional research is required to optimize long term seal integrity to ensure storage of CO₂ in geologic carbon sequestration scenarios.

生物矿化是一种新兴的生物技术，用于地下工程应用，如修复泄漏井眼。该过程依赖于尿素分解以在不希望的流动路径中诱导碳酸钙沉淀。在 CO _{2 的}地质储存中，存在泄漏和低 pH 条件的可能性，因此，在现场规模测试尿素分解诱导的碳酸钙沉淀 (UICP) 以在 CO ₂存在的情况下密封井筒水泥环中的通道-受影响的盐水。使用常规油田方法将促进 UICP 的流体输送到井下约 1000 英尺 (305 m) 的地下 (bgs) 处理区。超过 4 天，242 升（64 加仑）经过热处理的巴斯德孢子菌培养物（22 个水桶）和 329 L（87 加仑）尿素 - 氯化钙溶液（30 个水桶）被注入。UICP 处理导致注入量减少 94%，超声波测井显示套管外通道中的固体百分比显着增加，包括注入点上方 30 m (100 ft) 以上。现场演示后 11 个月的后续测井显示，仍有很大一部分新固体残留，但在持续泵送后密封性受损。该实验的结果表明，在受 CO ₂影响的盐水存在的情况下可以促进 UICP以密封泄漏路径。需要进一步研究以优化长期密封完整性以确保 CO _{2 的}储存 在地质固碳情景中。