A model for the fate of carbon dioxide from a simulated carbon storage seep

Offshore geological carbon storage (GCS) is a rapidly developing technology essential for meeting international climate goals. While the likelihood of leakage from a properly planned geological sequestration site is low, assurance that CO stays contained will require robust monitoring programs. While seismic imaging methods are used to monitor the geological reservoir, the ideal method for monitoring the water column above the reservoir depends on the fate and transport of CO. Whether CO is likely to be present as a rising seep of bubbles or dissolved in the water column near the seafloor will determine the appropriate monitoring technology and lead to a better understanding of the environmental impact of a potential leak. In this study, high definition video of a laboratory release of a carbon dioxide bubble seep recorded the size distribution of bubbles as a function of flow rate and orifice diameter. The transport of CO from different bubble size distributions was then modeled using the Texas A&M Oil Spill Calculator modeling suite. Model results show that the most important factor determining the rise height and transport of CO from the simulated leak was the maximum initial bubble size. For a maximum bubble radius of 5 mm, 95% of CO in the simulated seep reached a height of 17.1 m above the seafloor. When the maximum bubble radius was limited to 3 mm, 95% of CO dissolved by 7.8 m above the seafloor. The modeled results were verified during a controlled release of CO in Oslo Fjord.publishedVersio

A model for the fate of carbon dioxide from a simulated carbon storage seep

Offshore geological carbon storage (GCS) is a rapidly developing technology essential for meeting international climate goals. While the likelihood of leakage from a properly planned geological sequestration site is low, assurance that CO stays contained will require robust monitoring programs. While seismic imaging methods are used to monitor the geological reservoir, the ideal method for monitoring the water column above the reservoir depends on the fate and transport of CO. Whether CO is likely to be present as a rising seep of bubbles or dissolved in the water column near the seafloor will determine the appropriate monitoring technology and lead to a better understanding of the environmental impact of a potential leak. In this study, high definition video of a laboratory release of a carbon dioxide bubble seep recorded the size distribution of bubbles as a function of flow rate and orifice diameter. The transport of CO from different bubble size distributions was then modeled using the Texas A&M Oil Spill Calculator modeling suite. Model results show that the most important factor determining the rise height and transport of CO from the simulated leak was the maximum initial bubble size. For a maximum bubble radius of 5 mm, 95% of CO in the simulated seep reached a height of 17.1 m above the seafloor. When the maximum bubble radius was limited to 3 mm, 95% of CO dissolved by 7.8 m above the seafloor. The modeled results were verified during a controlled release of CO in Oslo Fjord

Modeling of biogeochemical consequences of a CO2 leak in the water column with bottom anoxia

Highlights • To study the biogeochemical consequences of a release of CO2 in an anoxic marine environment a FABM family set of models consisting of a transport model, biogeochemical model (including carbonate system processes block) and bubble fate (transport and dissolution) was applied. • The measurements performed during a controlled 2-h long CO2 release experiments show elevated levels of pCO2 and simultaneously decreased values in pH, that was used for the model validation. • The model analysis of consequences of a CO2discharge demonstrates that CO2 bubbles are dissolved shortly after termination of the leak, while changes in pH, pCO2 and TIC can be detected for several days after the leak, but only at a limited distance from the source (< 10 m in the examples evaluated here). In this paper we investigate the spatial extent and biogeochemical properties of a known CO2 plume using the pelagic transport-biogeochemical model BROM (Bottom RedOx Model). The model consists of a biogeochemical module, a 2-dimensional vertical transport module and gas bubble fate module, parameterizing bubbles rising and dissolution according to existing approaches. A controlled CO2 release experiment was carried out in the Horten Inner Harbor, Norway, in September 2018. This isolated bay is characterized by limited water mixing and anoxia in the bottom layer. CO2 was released at a water depth of 18 m either in a gas phase or dissolved in seawater at leak rates ranging from 0.1 l/min to 15.8 l/min. The chemical response to the release events relative to background variations was measured using chemical sensors mounted on two seabed templates located 4 m and 15 m from the release point, respectively, and compared to the values predicted by the model. The measurements show elevated levels of pCO2 and simultaneously decreased values in pH corresponding to the controlled release experiments. The model's simulations were in good agreement with the baseline observations and the measured changes forced by the experimental leak. The model predicts that after a continuous leak of this magnitude in stagnant conditions of anoxic bottom water, a 2–3 weeks long restoration period occurs, after which the disturbances disappear. This work confirms that the footprint of a potential CO2 leak is localized in the vicinity of the source (tens of meters) where it can be detectable with available chemical sensors