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Graphical Planning Envelopes for Estimating the Surface Footprint of CO2 Plumes during CO2 Injection into Saline Aquifers

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Abstract

This article presents research regarding the storage or sequestration of carbon dioxide in deep, saline aquifers. Building upon existing research and supplementing it with new numerical modeling simulations, a set of graphical planning curves was developed. Each graphical planning curve plots the value of Ω or the normalized surface footprint per kilogram of CO2 injected versus the aquifer anisotropy ratio. The planning curves present one planning envelope that is subdivided into two parts. One portion of the envelope governs the planning for active injection operations of geologic storage projects typically lasting less than 100 years. The second portion of the envelope governs the planning for long-term monitoring of the carbon dioxide plume as it evolves from mostly free-phase or highly concentrated aqueous-phase carbon dioxide to entirely dilute aqueous-phase carbon dioxide. This approach is innovative and useful for practitioners since it provides a simple way to estimate the CO2 surface footprint regardless of the aquifer anisotropy. Previous approaches for estimating the footprint usually assumed an isotropic and homogeneous aquifer storage zone.

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank the journal editor and two anonymous reviewers for their suggestions for improving the manuscript.

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  1. Civil Engineering, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Christopher J. Brown

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  1. Christopher J. Brown
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Brown, C.J. Graphical Planning Envelopes for Estimating the Surface Footprint of CO2 Plumes during CO2 Injection into Saline Aquifers. Nat Resour Res 20, 263–277 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-011-9155-z

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