Single-well push-pull test for assessing potential impacts of CO₂ leakage on groundwater quality in a shallow Gulf Coast aquifer in Cranfield, Mississippi

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• 作者：Changbing Yang ; Patrick J. Mickler ; Robert Reedy ; Bridget R. Scanlon ; Katherine D. Romanak ; Jean-Philippe Nicot ; Susan D. Hovorka ; Ramon H. Trevino ; Toti Larson
• 关键词：Single-well push&ndash ; pull test ; Shallow groundwater quality ; Geological CO2 sequestration ; CO2 leakage ; Groundwater chemistry monitoring
• 刊名：International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
• 出版年：2013
• 出版时间：October, 2013
• 年：2013
• 卷：18
• 期：Complete
• 页码：375-387
• 全文大小：1876 K

文摘

Understanding potential impacts of CO₂ leakage on groundwater quality in shallow aquifers is a critical concern for geologic sequestration. This study presents a single-well push-pull test conducted in the Cranfield shallow aquifer, the SECARB Phase III early test site, for assessing potential impacts of CO₂ leakage on groundwater quality. Groundwater pH, alkalinity, and electric conductivity were measured on site, and water samples were collected for chemical concentrations (major ions, trace elements, and dissolved inorganic carbon¡ªDIC) and DIC stable carbon isotope analyses. Bromine (Br) tracer was used as an indicator of mixing of background water with the injected solution. The data gained from these measurements was then used to develop a mixing model to provide a quantitative analysis of the mobilization of major ions and trace metals from the aquifer sediments to groundwater as a result of the injection of CO₂-enriched groundwater.

Major ions, especially calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and silicon (Si), show obvious enrichment, indicating mobilization of these ions from aquifer sediments to groundwater that may be dominated by dissolution of silicates and possibly carbonate minerals. Stable carbon isotope (¦Ä¹³C) of DIC of the recovered samples also suggests potential dissolution of carbonates. Whereas concentrations of trace elements were elevated after injection of CO₂-enriched groundwater, their maximum concentrations remained below the EPA's maximum contamination levels (MCLs). Mobilization of trace elements could be due to dissolution of silicates and carbonates and desorption from a clay surface. Mass-balance calculations suggest that ion mobilization is limited, and, therefore, potential risks of CO₂ are low, especially for arsenic and lead, which appeared in the recovered samples at concentrations of approximately 3 % of the EPA MCL. Overall reaction rates estimated from the push-pull test were generally smaller than overall reaction rates in a batch experiment. Results of the push-pull test suggest that groundwater pH, DIC, and ¦Ä¹³C of DIC may be helpful in detecting CO₂ leakage signals. Our study indicated that single-well push-pull tests can be a valuable approach for assessing potential impacts of CO₂ leakage on drinking water resources at geological CO₂ sequestration sites.