Trace metals in CO ₂ -rich Green River springs, Utah, USA: an analogue for engineered storage

Abstract

Sedimentary rocks with high natural CO 2 concentrations provide invaluable analogues for the long-term engineered storage of CO 2 . Some previous studies have reported high trace metal concentrations in sandstone aquifers exposed to CO 2 , a cause for concern should stored CO 2 leak into underground sources of drinking water. However, the intensively studied Jurassic sandstone aquifer in the San Rafael–Green River (Utah, USA) area has trace metal concentrations that are within US Environmental Protection Agency's limits for drinking water. Exceptions are As which is plausibly introduced into the aquifer by saline brines external to the aquifer, and salinity which largely is. This shows that CO 2 in aquifers does not inevitably cause trace metal contamination. CO 2 –water–rock batch experiments elucidated the controls on the trace metal concentrations. After the addition of CO 2 , the experiments reproduce Cu, Cd, Hg, Ni and Zn well, with less good agreement for Cr and Pb although these are still low compared to drinking water standards. Major cations used as fingerprints for mobilization mechanisms suggest that the trace metals are largely derived by desorption, possibly from grain-coating Fe-oxides, rather than by the dissolution of mineral phases. Possible exceptions are Pb and Ni, plus As which is derived from saline brines.

Enabling secure subsurface storage in future energy systems: an introduction

“…Injection of fluids into porous reservoirs may lead to geochemical reactions, including the potential mobilization of trace metals which is of concern in case of leakage of fluids into shallow drinking water aquifers. Wilkinson et al (2023) analyse the trace metal concentrations in spring waters with free-phase CO 2 from Utah as natural analogues to engineered CO 2 storage sites. They are able to show that the presence of CO 2 in aquifers does not necessarily cause trace metal contamination and, based on batch experiments, suggest that trace metals are likely sources by desorption from grain-coating Fe-oxides.…”