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Title: Review of the impacts of leaking CO2 gas and brine on groundwater quality

Journal Article · · Earth-Science Reviews
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

This paper provides an overview of the existing data and knowledge presented in recent literature about the potential leaking of CO2 from the deep subsurface storage reservoirs and the effects on groundwater quality. The objectives are to: 1) present data and discuss potential risks associated with the groundwater quality degradation due to CO2 gas and brine exposure; 2) identify the set of geochemical data required to develop models to assess and predict aquifer responses to CO2 and brine leakage; and 3) present a summary of the findings and reveal future trends in this important and expanding research area. The discussion is focused around aquifer responses to CO2 gas and brine exposure and the degree of impact; major hydrogeological and geochemical processes and site-specific properties known to control aquifer quality under CO2 exposure conditions; contributions from the deep reservoirs (plume characteristics and composition); and the possibility of establishment of a new network of reactions and processes affecting or controlling the overall mobility of major, minor, and trace elements and the fate of the elements released from sediments or transported with brine. Here this article also includes a discussion on the development of conceptual and reduced order models (ROMs) to describe and predict aquifer responses and whether or not the release of metals following exposure to CO2 is harmful, which are an essential tool for CO2 sequestration related risk assessment. Future research needs in this area are also included at the end of the paper.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1476499
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1413351
Journal Information:
Earth-Science Reviews, Vol. 169, Issue C; ISSN 0012-8252
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 31 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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