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On CO2 fluid flow and heat transfer behavior in the subsurface, following leakage from a geologic storage reservoir

  • Original Article
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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Geologic storage of CO2 is expected to produce plumes of large areal extent, and some leakage may occur along fractures, fault zones, or improperly plugged pre-existing wellbores. A review of physical and chemical processes accompanying leakage suggests a potential for self-enhancement. The numerical simulations presented here confirm this expectation, but reveal self-limiting features as well. It seems unlikely that CO2 leakage could trigger a high-energy run-away discharge, a so-called “pneumatic eruption,” but present understanding is insufficient to rule out this possibility. The most promising avenue for increasing understanding of CO2 leakage behavior is the study of natural analogues.

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Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges helpful discussions with John Apps, Jens Birkholzer, Chin-Fu Tsang and Sally Benson. Jens Birkholzer and two anonymous reviewers are thanked for their careful review of the manuscript and the suggestion of improvements. This work was supported by the Zero Emission Research and Technology project (ZERT) under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231 with the US Department of Energy.

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  1. Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    Karsten Pruess

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Pruess, K. On CO2 fluid flow and heat transfer behavior in the subsurface, following leakage from a geologic storage reservoir. Environ Geol 54, 1677–1686 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0945-x

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