• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.42-49
• /
• 2017

TOUGH2 was used to simulate the migration of $CO_2$ injected into a sandy aquifer. A series of numerical simulations was performed to investigate the effects of a low-permeability layer (LPL) embedded in the aquifer on the injection rate and the pressure distribution of $CO_2$. The results show that the size and location of the LPL greatly affected the spread of $CO_2$. The pressure difference between two points in the aquifer, one each below and above the LPL, increased as the size of the LPL increased, showing a critical value at 200 m, above which the size effect was diminished. The location of the LPL with respect to the injection well also affected the migration of $CO_2$. When the injection well was at the center of the LPL, the injection rate of $CO_2$ decreased by 5.0% compared to the case with no LPL. However, when the injection well was at the edge of the LPL, the injection rate was decreased by only 1.6%. The vertical distance between the injection point and the LPL also affected the injection rate. The closer the LPL was to the injection point, the lower the injection rate was, by up to 8.3%. Conclusively, in planning geologic storage of $CO_2$, the optimal location of the injection well should be determined considering the distribution of the LPL in the aquifer.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.19-27
• /
• 2015

If $CO_2$ stored for geological sequestration escapes from deep formations and is introduced to shallow aquifers, it dissolves into groundwater, creates acidic environments, and enhance mineral dissolution from rocks and soils. Among these minerals, dissolution and spread of hazardous trace metals can cause environmental problems with detrimental impacts on groundwater quality. This study aims to investigate geochemical effects of $CO_2$ in groundwater on dissolution of galena, the main mineral controlling the mobility of lead. A series of batch experiments are performed with granulated galena in $CO_2$ solutions under various experimental conditions for $CO_2$ concentration and reaction temperature. Results show that dissolution of galena is significantly enhanced under acidic environments so that both of equilibrium concentrations and dissolution rates of lead increase. For thermodynamic analysis on galena dissolution, the apparent rate constants and the activation energy for galena dissolution are calculated by applying rate law to experimental results. The apparent rate constants are $6.71{\times}10^{-8}mol/l{\cdot}sec$ at $15^{\circ}C$, $1.77{\times}10^{-7}mol/l{\cdot}sec$ at $25^{\circ}C$, $3.97{\times}10^{-7}mol/l{\cdot}sec$ at $35^{\circ}C$ and the activation energy is 63.68 kJ/mol. The galena dissolution is suggested to be a chemically controlled surface reaction, and the rate determining step is the dissociation of Pb-S bond of surface complex.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.123-133
• /
• 2011

The lab scale experiments to investigate the geochemical reaction among supercritical $CO_2$-mineral-brine which occurs at $CO_2$ sequestration sites were performed. High pressurized cell system (l00 bar and $50^{\circ}C$) was designed to create supercritical $CO_2$ in the cell, simulating the sub-surface $CO_2$ storage site. From the high pressurized cell experiment, the surface changes of Ca-feldspar, amphibole (tremolite) and olivine, resulted from the supercritical $CO_2$-mineral-brine reaction, were observed and the dissolution of minerals into the brine was also investigated. The mineral slabs were polished and three locations on the surface were randomly selected for the image analysis of SPM and the surface roughness value (SRV) of those locations were calculated to quantify the change of mineral surface for 30 days. At a certain time interval, SPM images and SRVs of the same mineral surface were acquired. The secondary minerals precipitated on the mineral surfaces were also analyzed on SEM/EDS after the experiment. From the experiments, the average SRV of Ca-feldspar increased from 2.77 nm to 20.87 nm for 30 days, suggesting that the dissolution of Ca-feldspar occurs in active when the feldspars contact with supercritical $CO_2$ and brine. For the amphibole, the average SRV increased from 2.54 nm to 8.31 nm and for the olivine from 0.77 nm to 11.03 run. For the Ca-feldspar, $Ca^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $Fe^{2+}$, $Si^{4+}$, $K^+$ and $Mg^{2+}$ were dissolved in the highest order and $Si^{4+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Fe^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ for the amphibole. Fe (or Mg) - oxides were precipitated as the secondary minerals on the surfaces of amphibole and olivine after 30 days reaction. Results suggested that $Ca^{2+}$, $Fe^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ rich minerals would be significantly weathered when it contacts with the supercritical $CO_2$ and brine at $CO_2$ sequestration sites.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2018

The Korean government attempts to reduce $CO_2$ emissions by 37% to 314.7 Mt $CO_2$, down from the estimated 850.6 Mt $CO_2$ until 2030 in order to confront green house effect. In this context, in 2014, Korean government launched $CO_2$ Storage Environmental Management Research (K-COSEM) Center for carrying out pilot-scale research on $CO_2$ leakage from underground $CO_2$ storage facilities. For the detection of $CO_2$ leakage, it is necessary to identify hydrologeological and geophysical characteristics of the subject area. In the study site of Naesan-ri, Daeso-myeon, Eumseong-gun, Chungbuk Province, two times injection tests (June 28-July 24, 2017 and August 07-September 11, 2017) of $CO_2$ and $SF_6$ dissolved waters, respectively, was conducted to understand the leakage behavior of $CO_2$ from underground. The injection well was drilled to a depth of 24 m with a 21-m casing and screen interval of 21~24 m depth. Two times resistivity surveys on August 18, 2017 and September 1, 2017, were conducted for revealing the flow of the injected water as well as the electrical properties of the study site. The study results have shown that the high-resistivity zone and the low-resistivity zone are clearly contrasted with each other and the flow direction of the injected water is similar to natural groundwater flow. Besides, the low resistivity zone is widely formed from the depth of injection to the shallow topsoil, indicating that the weathered zone of high permeability has high $CO_2$ leakage potential.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.359-366
• /
• 2009

CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) is considered as the most promising interim solution to deal with the greenhouse gas such as $CO_2$ responsible for global warming. Even though carefully chosen geologic formations are known to contain stored gas for a long time period, there are potential risks of leakage. Up to now, applicable risk assessment procedures for the leakage of $CO_2$ are not available. This study presents a basis for risk analysis applicable to a complex geologic storage system. It starts with the classification of potential leakage pathways. Receptors and the leakage effect on them are identified and quantified. Then, a fault tree is constructed, which yields the minimum cut set (i.e., the most vulnerable leakage pathway) and quantifies the probability of the leakage risk through the cut set. The methodology will provide a tool for risk assessment in a CCS project. The outcomes of the assessment will not only ensure the safety of the CCS system but also offer a reliable and efficient monitoring plan.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.421-430
• /
• 2014

In this study, a series of autoclave experiments were conducted in order to investigate the geochemical and mineralogical effects of carbon dioxide on deep subsurface environments. High pressure and temperature conditions of $50^{\circ}C$ and 100 bar, which are representative environments for geological $CO_2$ sequestration, were created in stainless-steel autoclaves for simulating the interactions in the $scCO_2$-groundwater-mineral reaction system. Zeolite, a widespread mineral in Pohang Basin where many researches have been focused as a candidate for geological $CO_2$ sequestration, and groundwater sampled from an 800 m depth aquifer were applied in the experiments. Geochemical and mineralogical alterations after 30 days of $scCO_2$-groundwater-zeolite sample reactions were quantitatively examined by XRD, XRF, and ICP-OES investigations. The results suggested that dissolution of zeolite sample was enhanced under the acidic condition induced by dissolution of $scCO_2$. As the cation concentrations released from zeolite sample increase, $H^+$ in groundwater was consumed and pH increases up to 10.35 after 10 days of reaction. While cation concentrations showed increasing trends in groundwater due to dissolution of the zeolite sample, Si concentrations decreased due to precipitation of amorphous silicate, and Ca concentrations decreased due to cation exchange and re-precipitation of calcite. Through the reaction experiments, it was observed that introduction of $CO_2$ could make alterations in dissolution characteristics of minerals, chemical compositions and properties of groundwater, and mineral compositions of aquifer materials. Results also showed that geochemical reactions such as cation exchange or dissolution/precipitation of minerals could play an important role to affect physical and chemical characteristics of geologic formations and groundwater.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.69-76
• /
• 2021

This study is to identify the mineralogical properties of caprock samples from drilling cores of the Pohang basin, which is the research area for the demonstration-scale CO2 storage project in Korea. The interaction of water-rock-gas that can occur due to CO2 injection was identified using geochemical modeling. Results of mineralogical studies, together with petrographic data of caprock and data on the physicochemical parameters of pore water were used for geochemical modeling. Modelling was carried out using the The Geochemist's Workbench 14.0.1 geochemical simulator. Two steps of modeling enabled prediction of immediate changes in the caprocks impacted by the first stage of CO2 injection and the assessment of long-term effects of sequestration. Results of minerlaogical analysis showed that the caprock samples are mainly composed of quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase and a small amount of pyrite, calcite, kaolinite and montmollonite. After the injection of carbon dioxide, the porosity of the caprock increased due to the dissolution of calcite, and dawsonite and chalcedony were precipitated as a result of the dissolution of albite and k-feldspar. In the second step after the injection was completed, the precipitation of dawsonite and chalcedony occurred as a result of dissolution of calcite and albite, and the pH was increased due to this reaction. Results of these studies are expected to be used as data to quantitatively evaluate the efficiency of mineral trapping capture in long-term storage of carbon dioxide.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.43-49
• /
• 2011

In the face of growing concern about global warming, increasing attention has been focused on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. One method to mitigating the release of carbon dioxide is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). CCS includes separation of carbon dioxide from industrial emission in plants, transport to a storage site, and long-term isolation in underground. It is necessary to conduct analyses on optimal site selection, surface monitoring, and additional effects by the construction of CCS facility in Gyeongsang basin, Korea. For the optimal site selection, necessary data; geological map, landcover map, digital elevation model, and slope map, were prepared, and a weighted overlay analysis was performed. Then, surface monitoring was performed using high resolution satellite image. As a result, the candidate region was selected inside Gyeongnam for carbon storage. Finally, the related regulations about CCS facility were collected and analyzed for legal question of selected site.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.351-356
• /
• 2016

The carbon capture and storage (CCS), which collects and stores carbon dioxide in a geological site, is a promising option to mitigate climate change. However, there is the possibility of carbon dioxide leakage from the soil in the steps of collecting, transporting, and storing. To ensure the feasibility of this technology, it is important to monitor the leakage of carbon dioxide and to assess the potential impacts. As plants are sensitive to the changes in carbon dioxide in the soil environment, we can utilize plant parameter to detect the carbon dioxide leakage. Currently, chlorophyll a content is a conventional index indicating the changes in plants, however, this method is labor intensive and it only utilizes a small portion of leaves. To overcome its limitations, a simple spectroscopic parameter, DGCI (dark green color index), was suggested as an easy and quick indicator. In this study, we compared the values of chlorophyll a contents with DGCI from the experiment investigating the impacts of high underground $CO_2$ on grape plants. Results suggest that DGCI had high correlation with chlorophyll a contents and it has high potential to be utilized as an easy indicator to monitor plants' responses to $CO_2$ treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2012

Carbon-dioxide capture and storage (CCS) process is consisted by capturing carbon-dioxide from large point source such as power plant and steel works, transporting and sequestrating captured $CO_2$ in a stable geological structure. During CCS process, it is inevitable of introducing impurities from combustion, capture and purification process into $CO_2$ stream. Impurities such as $SO_2$, $H_2O$, CO, $N_2$, Ar, $O_2$, $H_2$, can influence on process efficiency, capital expenditure, operation expense of CCS process. In this study, experimental apparatus is built to simulate the behavior of $CO_2$ transport under various impurity composition and process pressure condition. With this apparatus, $N_2$ impurity effect on $CO_2$ mixture transportation was experimentally evaluated. The result showed that as $N_2$ ratio increased pressure drop per mass flow and specific volume of $CO_2-N_2$ mixture also increased. In 120 and 100 bar condition the mixture was in single phase supercritical condition, and as $N_2$ ratio increased gradient of specific volume change and pressure drop per mass flow did not change largely compared to low pressure condition. In 70 bar condition the mixture phase changed from single phase liquid to single phase vapor through liquid-vapor two phase region, and it showed that the gradient of specific volume change and pressure drop per mass flow varied in each phase.