The Lake Nyos gas disaster

Freeth, S. J.

doi:10.1007/978-3-663-05239-5_8

Cited by 40 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The final toll was 1746 people, over 3000 cattle, and innumerable other animals killed up to 27 km away and 24 hours after the initial gas release. Detailed descriptions of the Lake Nyos disaster can be found in e.g., Freeth and Kay (1987), Baxter and Kapila (1989), LeGuern and others (1992), and Evans and others (1994). Today, in an effort to mitigate CO 2 buildup at depth and prevent future eruptions, both Lakes Monoun and Nyos are being degassed using vertical pipes extending from the lakes' surfaces to near the lakes' bottoms (e.g., Halbwachs and others 2004).…”

Section: A9 Lakes Monoun and Nyos Cameroon In 1984 And 1986 Lethamentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural and industrial analogues for leakage of CO2 from storage reservoirs: identification of features, events, and processes and lessons learned

2006

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Instances of CO 2 leakage from naturally occurring reservoirs serve as analogues for the potential release of CO 2 from geologic storage sites. This paper summarizes, compares, and contrasts the features, events, and processes (FEPs) that can be identified from these analogues which include both naturally occuring releases, and those asociated with industrial processes such as drilling.The following conclusions are drawn: (1) Carbon dioxide can accumulate beneath, and be released from, primary and secondary shallower reservoirs with capping units located at a wide range of depths; (2) Many natural releases of CO 2 are correlated with a specific event that triggered the release; (3) Unsealed fault and fracture zones may act as direct flow paths for CO 2 from depth to the surface; (4) Improperly constructed or abandoned wells can rapidly release large quantities of CO 2 ; (5) The types of CO 2 release at the surface vary widely between and within different leakage sites; (6) The hazard to human health was small in most cases due to implementation of post-leakage public education and CO 2 monitoring programs; (7) While changes in groundwater chemistry were related to CO 2 leakage, waters often remained potable.Lessons learned for risk assessment associated with geologic carbon sequestration are discussed.

show abstract

Section: A9 Lakes Monoun and Nyos Cameroon In 1984 And 1986 Lethamentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural and industrial analogues for leakage of CO2 from storage reservoirs: identification of features, events, and processes and lessons learned

2006

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In August 1986, there was a major, uncontrolled outgassing of over 100 million m 3 of CO2 from Lake Nyos [Freeth and Kay, 1987;Kling et al, 1987] resulting in the death by asphyxiation of over 1000 people [Freeth, 1992]. The prevailing hypothesis to explain the catastrophe is that the gas was released from within the lake by circulation patterns, bringing CO2-rich bottom waters toward the epilimnion [Evans et al, 1995].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical simulations of degassing scenarios for CO₂‐rich Lake Nyos, Cameroon

McCord¹,

Schladow²

1998

J. Geophys. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. A catastrophic outgassing of carbon dioxide (CO2) from Lake Nyos, Cameroon, occurred in 1986. Concentrations of dissolved CO2 have been increasing in the bottom waters since 1986, prompting an international effort to engineer controlled degassing that would maintain lake stability by reducing the gas concentration. A new model, based on the one-dimensional Dynamic Reservoir Simulation Model has been used to simulate the evolution and distribution of CO2 in Lake Nyos. Initial conditions for the simulations are taken from published observations and integrated forward with synthesized, daily meteorological data for 5 years. After model results were found to be in agreement with observed trends, a hypolimnetic piped withdrawal system for degassing the lake was then modeled to simulate its effect on the CO2 concentration profile over time. In the standard degassing operation, gas-rich bottom water continuously flows up through pipes, discharging as a fountain at the lake surface. Simulation results indicate that the lake density structure will most likely remain stable and CO2 concentrations will decrease at all depths above the pipe intake. Seven alternative operational strategies for the degassing system were also investigated, including a submerged outlet, an intake raised above the lake bottom, higher flow rate, a disrupted operation schedule, employment of a stabilization pond, multiple intake depths, and release of the withdrawn water from the lake. Multiple intake depths best maintain lake stability. A tentative conclusion is that degassing may need to be carried out indefinitely, albeit intermittently or at a reduced flow rate.

show abstract

“…The first scientific reports on the 1986 Lake Nyos gas disaster were published by Freeth and Kay (1987), Kling et al (1987) and Tietze (1987). Of these, Kling et al (1987), which is easily accessible, gave the most comprehensive results of the initial survey of the disaster, which included the geology of the region, the geochemistry of water and gas from the lake, and the pathology of hospitalized people and victims.…”

Section: -1 Pre-degassing Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lakes Nyos and Monoun Gas Disasters (Cameroon)—Limnic Eruptions Caused by Excessive Accumulation of Magmatic CO<sub>2</sub> in Crater Lakes

Kusakabe¹

2017

GEochem. Monogr. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Lake Nyos gas disaster

Cited by 40 publications

References 21 publications

Natural and industrial analogues for leakage of CO2 from storage reservoirs: identification of features, events, and processes and lessons learned

Natural and industrial analogues for leakage of CO2 from storage reservoirs: identification of features, events, and processes and lessons learned

Numerical simulations of degassing scenarios for CO₂‐rich Lake Nyos, Cameroon

Lakes Nyos and Monoun Gas Disasters (Cameroon)—Limnic Eruptions Caused by Excessive Accumulation of Magmatic CO<sub>2</sub> in Crater Lakes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

The Lake Nyos gas disaster

Cited by 40 publications

References 21 publications

Natural and industrial analogues for leakage of CO2 from storage reservoirs: identification of features, events, and processes and lessons learned

Natural and industrial analogues for leakage of CO2 from storage reservoirs: identification of features, events, and processes and lessons learned

Numerical simulations of degassing scenarios for CO2‐rich Lake Nyos, Cameroon

Lakes Nyos and Monoun Gas Disasters (Cameroon)—Limnic Eruptions Caused by Excessive Accumulation of Magmatic CO<sub>2</sub> in Crater Lakes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Numerical simulations of degassing scenarios for CO₂‐rich Lake Nyos, Cameroon