When injected into a closed water aquifer, which may be a porous medium closed by a caprock, CO2 will rise due to buoyancy to the top of the reservoir where it will partially dissolve in water by diffusion and convection forming carbonic acid. The density of carbonic acid is higher than than that of pure water and this density difference will cause the carbonic acid to sink. This will set off an unstable convection pattern which will be stabilized by the viscosity of the fluids, the resistance of the porous medium, and the CO2 diffusion constant. The main tasks of this project will be to perform systematic experiments in quasi 2D experimental models by changing buoyancy and the permeability of the porous medium.This problem is of central importance for mastering at CO2 storage in aquifers.
CO2 storage and stability of convection plumes in model aquifers
CO2 is being injected above a water-saturated synthetic porous medium, consisting of glass beads. An acid indicator has been added to the water. As CO2 is being absorbed by the water carbonic acid forms, which due to the presence of the indicator changes the color of the liquid from blue to green. The acid has larger density than water, sinks and forms acid plumes that extend downwards.
Publisert 21. sep. 2020 15:24
- Sist endret 11. okt. 2022 09:36