skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Evaluating Potential for Large Releases from CO2 StorageReservoirs: Analogs, Scenarios, and Modeling Needs

Abstract

While the purpose of geologic storage of CO{sub 2} in deep saline formations is to trap greenhouse gases underground, the potential exists for CO{sub 2} to escape from the target reservoir, migrate upward along permeable pathways, and discharge at the land surface. Such discharge is not necessarily a serious concern, as CO{sub 2} is a naturally abundant and relatively benign gas in low concentrations. However, there is a potential risk to health, safety and environment (HSE) in the event that large localized fluxes of CO{sub 2} were to occur at the land surface, especially where CO{sub 2} could accumulate. In this paper, we develop possible scenarios for large CO{sub 2} fluxes based on the analysis of natural analogues, where large releases of gas have been observed. We are particularly interested in scenarios which could generate sudden, possibly self-enhancing, or even eruptive release events. The probability for such events may be low, but the circumstances under which they might occur and potential consequences need to be evaluated in order to design appropriate site selection and risk management strategies. Numerical modeling of hypothetical test cases is needed to determine critical conditions for such events, to evaluate whether such conditions may be possiblemore » at designated storage sites, and, if applicable, to evaluate the potential HSE impacts of such events and design appropriate mitigation strategies.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy
OSTI Identifier:
901808
Report Number(s):
LBNL-58883-Ext.-Abs.
R&D Project: G4W009; BnR: 400408000; TRN: US0702664
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC02-05CH11231
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: GHGT-8 Conference 2006, Trondheim, Norway, 19-23June 2006
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12; DESIGN; GREENHOUSE GASES; MANAGEMENT; MITIGATION; NATURAL ANALOGUE; PROBABILITY; SAFETY; SIMULATION; SITE SELECTION; STORAGE; TARGETS

Citation Formats

Birkholzer, Jens, Pruess, Karsten, Lewicki, Jennifer, Tsang, Chin-Fu, and Karimjee, Anhar. Evaluating Potential for Large Releases from CO2 StorageReservoirs: Analogs, Scenarios, and Modeling Needs. United States: N. p., 2005. Web.
Birkholzer, Jens, Pruess, Karsten, Lewicki, Jennifer, Tsang, Chin-Fu, & Karimjee, Anhar. Evaluating Potential for Large Releases from CO2 StorageReservoirs: Analogs, Scenarios, and Modeling Needs. United States.
Birkholzer, Jens, Pruess, Karsten, Lewicki, Jennifer, Tsang, Chin-Fu, and Karimjee, Anhar. 2005. "Evaluating Potential for Large Releases from CO2 StorageReservoirs: Analogs, Scenarios, and Modeling Needs". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/901808.
@article{osti_901808,
title = {Evaluating Potential for Large Releases from CO2 StorageReservoirs: Analogs, Scenarios, and Modeling Needs},
author = {Birkholzer, Jens and Pruess, Karsten and Lewicki, Jennifer and Tsang, Chin-Fu and Karimjee, Anhar},
abstractNote = {While the purpose of geologic storage of CO{sub 2} in deep saline formations is to trap greenhouse gases underground, the potential exists for CO{sub 2} to escape from the target reservoir, migrate upward along permeable pathways, and discharge at the land surface. Such discharge is not necessarily a serious concern, as CO{sub 2} is a naturally abundant and relatively benign gas in low concentrations. However, there is a potential risk to health, safety and environment (HSE) in the event that large localized fluxes of CO{sub 2} were to occur at the land surface, especially where CO{sub 2} could accumulate. In this paper, we develop possible scenarios for large CO{sub 2} fluxes based on the analysis of natural analogues, where large releases of gas have been observed. We are particularly interested in scenarios which could generate sudden, possibly self-enhancing, or even eruptive release events. The probability for such events may be low, but the circumstances under which they might occur and potential consequences need to be evaluated in order to design appropriate site selection and risk management strategies. Numerical modeling of hypothetical test cases is needed to determine critical conditions for such events, to evaluate whether such conditions may be possible at designated storage sites, and, if applicable, to evaluate the potential HSE impacts of such events and design appropriate mitigation strategies.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/901808}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 19 00:00:00 EDT 2005},
month = {Mon Sep 19 00:00:00 EDT 2005}
}

Conference:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this conference proceeding.

Save / Share: