Probabilistic evaluation of shallow groundwater resources at a hypothetical carbon sequestration site

Dai, Zhenxue; Keating, Elizabeth; Bacon, Diana H.; Viswanathan, Hari; Stauffer, Philip; Jordan, Amy B.; Pawar, Rajesh

doi:10.1038/srep04006

Probabilistic evaluation of shallow groundwater resources at a hypothetical carbon sequestration site

Journal Article · Fri Mar 07 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Scientific Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/srep04006· OSTI ID:1158456

Dai, Zhenxue ^[1]; Keating, Elizabeth ^[1]; Bacon, Diana H. ^[2]; Viswanathan, Hari ^[1]; Stauffer, Philip ^[1]; Jordan, Amy B. ^[1]; Pawar, Rajesh ^[1]

Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Carbon sequestration in geologic reservoirs is an important approach for mitigating greenhouse gases emissions to the atmosphere. This study first develops an integrated Monte Carlo method for simulating CO₂ and brine leakage from carbon sequestration and subsequent geochemical interactions in shallow aquifers. Then, we estimate probability distributions of five risk proxies related to the likelihood and volume of changes in pH, total dissolved solids, and trace concentrations of lead, arsenic, and cadmium for two possible consequence thresholds. The results indicate that shallow groundwater resources may degrade locally around leakage points by reduced pH and increased total dissolved solids (TDS). The volumes of pH and TDS plumes are most sensitive to aquifer porosity, permeability, and CO₂ and brine leakage rates. The estimated plume size of pH change is the largest, while that of cadmium is the smallest among the risk proxies. Plume volume distributions of arsenic and lead are similar to those of TDS. The scientific results from this study provide substantial insight for understanding risks of deep fluids leaking into shallow aquifers, determining the area of review, and designing monitoring networks at carbon sequestration sites.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1158456

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--100638; AA9010200

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Vol. 4; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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58 GEOSCIENCES
CO2 and brine leakage
Groundwater resources
heterogeneity
integrated MC simulation
plume volume distribution
risk assessment
unconfined aquifer

Probabilistic evaluation of shallow groundwater resources at a hypothetical carbon sequestration site

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