Joint Research Project Brine: Carbon Dioxide Storage in Eastern Brandenburg: Implications for Synergetic Geothermal Heat Recovery and Conceptualization of an Early Warning System Against Freshwater Salinization

Kempka, Thomas; Herd, Rainer; Huenges, Ernst; Endler, Ricarda; Jahnke, Christoph; Janetz, Silvio; Jolie, Egbert; Kühn, Michael; Magri, Fabien; Meinert, Peter; Moeck, Inga; Möller, M.; Muñoz, Gerard; Ritter, O.; Schafrik, Wladislaw; Schmidt‐Hattenberger, Cornelia; Tillner, Elena; Voigt, Hans-Jürgen; Zimmermann, Günter

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-13930-2_9

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…11 and 12) show, two conditions need to be fulfilled in order for notable changes in concentration to occur: (i) the permeability is high enough such that flow occurs (this is true where the Rupelian clay barrier is discontinuous), and (ii) some initial concentration is already present prior to the injection. Notable changes in concentration occur only locally which is in qualitative agreement with findings by Tillner et al (2013) and Kempka et al (2013).…”

supporting

confidence: 90%

“…This includes characteristic geological features of the North German Basin. In contrast to earlier work, for example by Kempka et al (2013), our model fully couples flow in shallow aquifers with deep saline aquifers considering variable-density flow. Within this system, we investigate the potential for brine migration as required for an early assessment of a multi-stage site identification process.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Brine migration along vertical pathways due to CO<sub>2</sub> injection – a simulated case study in the North German Basin with stakeholder involvement

Kissinger

Noack

Knopf

et al. 2016

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Brine migration into potential drinking water aquifers due to the injection of CO 2 into deep saline aquifers is one of the potential hazards associated with the Carbon Capture and Storage technology (CCS). Thus, in any site selection process, an important criterion should be the evaluation of brine migration resulting from the injection. We follow an interdisciplinary approach using participatory modeling to incorporate stakeholder opinion at an early stage in order to discuss and evaluate model conception and relevant scenarios for brine migration. The basis for this approach is a realistic (but not real) on-shore 5 site in the North German Basin with characteristic geological features for that region. Our model fully couples flow in shallow and in deep saline aquifers including variable-density transport of salt and a realistic description of the top surface boundary conditions with groundwater recharge and rivers. We investigate different scenarios to identify relevant system components. Further, different model simplifications are compared and discussed with respect to the relevant physical processes and the expected data availability, i.e. to find a model as complex as necessary and as simple as possible. It becomes clear that the 10 initial salt distribution plays a key role as to where noticeable concentration changes may occur. Also the boundary conditions are important for determining the amount of vertically displaced brine. Simplifications in the model setup, such as neglecting variable-density flow or simplifying the complex geometry may prove valid options given sparse data availability.

show abstract

supporting

confidence: 90%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Brine migration along vertical pathways due to CO<sub>2</sub> injection – a simulated case study in the North German Basin with stakeholder involvement

Kissinger

Noack

Knopf

et al. 2016

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A multi-barrier system of different cap rocks, mainly anhydrites, halites and claystones from the Upper Buntsandstein, the Middle and Upper Muschelkalk, as well as the Lower Keuper seals the Detfurth Formation and the overlying secondary reservoirs. The basal sandstones of the Rupelian (Oligocene, Upper Tertiary) at a depth between 100 and 150 m in average mark the beginning of saltwater-bearing aquifers in the area (Kempka et al, 2015a;Grube et al, 2000;Hannemann and Schirrmeister, 1998;Stackebrandt, 1998).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Fault damage zone volume and initial salinity distribution determine intensity of shallow aquifer salinisation in subsurface storage

Tillner

Langer

Kempka

et al. 2016

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Injection of fluids into deep saline aquifers causes a pore pressure increase in the storage formation, and thus displacement of resident brine. Via hydraulically conductive faults, brine may migrate upwards into shallower aquifers and lead to unwanted salinisation of potable groundwater resources. In the present study, we investigated different scenarios for a potential storage site in the Northeast German Basin using a three-dimensional (3-D) regional-scale model that includes four major fault zones. The focus was on assessing the impact of fault length and the effect of a secondary reservoir above the storage formation, as well as model boundary conditions and initial salinity distribution on the potential salinisation of shallow groundwater resources. We employed numerical simulations of brine injection as a representative fluid.Our simulation results demonstrate that the lateral model boundary settings and the effective fault damage zone volume have the greatest influence on pressure build-up and development within the reservoir, and thus intensity and duration of fluid flow through the faults. Higher vertical pressure gradients for short fault segments or a small effective fault damage zone volume result in the highest salinisation potential due to a larger vertical fault height affected by fluid displacement. Consequently, it has a strong impact on the degree of shallow aquifer salinisation, whether a gradient in salinity exists or the saltwater-freshwater interface lies below the fluid displacement depth in the faults. A small effective fault damage zone volume or low fault permeability further extend the duration of fluid flow, which can persist for several tens to hundreds of years, if the reservoir is laterally confined. Laterally open reservoir boundaries, large effective fault damage zone volumes and intermediate reservoirs significantly reduce vertical brine migration and the potential of freshwater salinisation because the origin depth of displaced brine is located only a few decametres below the shallow aquifer in maximum.The present study demonstrates that the existence of hydraulically conductive faults is not necessarily an exclusion criterion for potential injection sites, because salinisation of shallower aquifers strongly depends on initial salinity distribution, location of hydraulically conductive faults and their effective damage zone volumes as well as geological boundary conditions.

show abstract

“…The fault systems crosscut the Triassic storage formations and reach up to the Oligocene horizon (Baldschuhn et al, 2001). The average fault throw is 30 m with a total displacement of 35 m. However, locally the fault throw can reach 200 m and total displacement can be up to 240 m, which can serve as a rough probability indicator for faults acting as a possible leakage pathway (Knipe et al, 1997;Manzocchi et al, 1999;Shipton and Cowie, 2001).…”

Section: Geological Storage Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…the fault core, the damage zones and the adjacent host rock. The properties of these units affecting fluid flow are hydraulic permeability and capillary entry pressure as well as spatial extent (Knipe et al, 1997).…”

Section: Geological Storage Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity analysis of gas leakage through a fault zone during subsurface gas storage in porous formations

Gasanzade¹,

Bauer²,

Pfeiffer³

2019

Adv. Geosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Subsurface gas storage in porous media is a viable option to mitigate shortages in energy supply in systems largely based on renewable sources. Fault systems adjacent to or intersecting with gas storage could potentially result in a leakage of stored gas. Variations in formation pressure during a storage operation can affect the gas leakage rates, requiring a site and scenario specific assessment. In this study, a geological model of an existing structure in the North German Basin (NGB) is developed, parameterised and a methane gas storage operation is simulated. Based on the observed storage pressure, a sensitivity study aimed at determining gas leakage rates for different parametrisations of the fault damage zone is performed using a simplified 2-D model. The leakage scenario simulations show a strong parameter dependence with the fault acting as either a barrier or a conduit for gas flow. Furthermore, the storage operation greatly affects the gas leakage rates for a given parametrisation with significant leakage only during the injection periods and thus during increased overpressures in the storage formation. During injection, the peak leakage rates can be as high as 2308 Sm3 d−1 for damage zone permeabilities of 10 mD and a capillary entry pressure of 4 bar. Increasing capillary entry pressure results in a sealing effect. If the capillary entry pressure is scaled according to the damage zone permeability, peak leakage rates can be higher, i.e. 3240 Sm3 d−1 for 10 mD and 0.13 bar. During withdrawal periods, the pressure gradient between a storage formation and a fault zone is reduced or even reversed, resulting in greatly reduced leakage rates or even a temporary stop of the leakage. Total leakage volume from storage formation was assessed based on the 2-D study by considering the exposure of the gas-filled part of the storage formation to the fault zone and subsequently compared with gas in place volume.

show abstract

Joint Research Project Brine: Carbon Dioxide Storage in Eastern Brandenburg: Implications for Synergetic Geothermal Heat Recovery and Conceptualization of an Early Warning System Against Freshwater Salinization

Cited by 6 publications

References 27 publications

Brine migration along vertical pathways due to CO<sub>2</sub> injection – a simulated case study in the North German Basin with stakeholder involvement

Brine migration along vertical pathways due to CO<sub>2</sub> injection – a simulated case study in the North German Basin with stakeholder involvement

Fault damage zone volume and initial salinity distribution determine intensity of shallow aquifer salinisation in subsurface storage

Sensitivity analysis of gas leakage through a fault zone during subsurface gas storage in porous formations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Joint Research Project Brine: Carbon Dioxide Storage in Eastern Brandenburg: Implications for Synergetic Geothermal Heat Recovery and Conceptualization of an Early Warning System Against Freshwater Salinization

Cited by 6 publications

References 27 publications

Brine migration along vertical pathways due to CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; injection – a simulated case study in the North German Basin with stakeholder involvement

Brine migration along vertical pathways due to CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; injection – a simulated case study in the North German Basin with stakeholder involvement

Fault damage zone volume and initial salinity distribution determine intensity of shallow aquifer salinisation in subsurface storage

Sensitivity analysis of gas leakage through a fault zone during subsurface gas storage in porous formations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Brine migration along vertical pathways due to CO<sub>2</sub> injection – a simulated case study in the North German Basin with stakeholder involvement

Brine migration along vertical pathways due to CO<sub>2</sub> injection – a simulated case study in the North German Basin with stakeholder involvement