Lu et al. (2024): Fault Leakage Behaviors and Co2 Migration in Different Types of Geological Carbon Storage

Jiang Lu, Yanxin Lv, Xiaoyu Fang, Jinsong Zuo, Siyang Wang, Haibo Li, Chao Yuan, Weiji Liu IN: Chemistry and Technology of Fuels and Oils, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10553-024-01701-1

In this study, the fault-reservoir system is constructed to elucidate the fault leakage behaviors and CO₂ migration in different geological storage environments. Whether CO₂ is buoyant or sinking depends on the fluid density difference between CO₂ and H₂O. When carbon dioxide is injected into deep saline aquifer, CO₂ would preferentially migrate upward along the fault plane due to CO₂ buoyancy forces, and CO₂ plume accumulates beneath the caprock and floats at the top of the reservoir eventually. For CO₂ storage in deep ocean reservoir and volcanic basalt, no upward migration of CO₂ plume is observed during carbon storage. Fault plane is the preferential pathway for carbon downward transportation during ocean-based CO₂ storage, providing a virtually unlimited environment. Compared with deep ocean storage, the much shorter sinking times makes volcanic basalt for carbon storage safer and more effective.

LINK