Presentation
Modelling the fate of brine releases during Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) operations and the extend of the effects in the marine environment
DescriptionCarbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a technique that can potentially reduce the CO2 emissions in the atmosphere and contribute towards meeting the goals set by governments and international organisations for the mitigation of climate change. CCS involves capturing CO2 from point source emitters and burying it compressed in geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers. The pores of these geological formations are typically filled with saline water. Due to the prolonged contact with the rock at high pressure and temperature, the pore water typically exhibits elevated concentration of salts and metals, and low concentration of oxygen. The storage of CO2 in the formation creates the need to relocate the pore water which could potentially be released in the water column above the seabed. Due to the elevated levels of salts and minerals, and low concentrations of oxygen, there is a concern for the potential effects of these releases in the marine environment. Accurate modelling of the circulation and dilution of the brine in the water column is essential in assessing the extent of the affected marine environment. In this paper we demonstrate a modelling technique, utilising a non-hydrostatic Eulerian hydrodynamic model for the precise prediction of the dynamics of a brine release, including two-way hydrodynamic interaction with the background currents, and interaction with the seabed morphology. We compare this model to a Lagrangian particle model and compare their results.
Event Type
Paper
TimeTuesday, May 14th2:30pm - 2:50pm CDT
Location288-290
Preparedness