Analysis of the Leakage Possibility of Injected CO2 in a Saline Aquifer

作者：Lee Youngsoo; Kim Kihong; Sung Wonmo; Yoo Inhang^*

来源：Energy & Fuels, 2010, 24(5): 3292-3298.

DOI：10.1021/ef100073m

This paper presents the numerical modeling study to investigate the leakage possibility of CO2 in a deep saline aquifer where caprock is discontinuous or does not exist. As a result of simulations for 30 years of injection and 5000 years of monitoring, injected CO2 rises by buoyancy. However, it does not reach the surface, and the height of CO2 moving upward is not high from the effect of residual and solubility trap mechanisms. Meanwhile, when the vertical permeability is higher than the actual, CO2 moves highly upward and the phase of CO2 changes into a gas phase. However, it is shown that CO2 does not affect the surface during the monitoring period. When CO2 is injected into a deeper aquifer, it is more effective and stable for CO2 sequestration. Finally, CO2 may leak faster when there are flow networks composed of faults and porous mediums. For this reason, we should pay attention to the formation lies on the target aquifer to prevent the possible leakage of injected CO2.

• 出版日期2010-5