Nonisothermal Effects During CO₂ Leakage from a Geologic Disposal Reservoir

Karsten Pruess

Contact: 510/486-6732, k_pruess@lbl.gov

Research Objectives

There is general consensus in the scientific community that geologic disposal of CO₂ into saline aquifers would be made at supercritical pressures, P > P_critt = 73.82 bars. However, CO₂ escaping from a storage reservoir may migrate upwards towards regions with lower temperatures and pressures, where CO₂ would be in subcritical conditions. An assessment of the fate of leaking CO₂ requires the capability to model not only supercritical but also subcritical CO₂, as well as phase changes between liquid and gaseous CO₂ in subcritical conditions.

To continue reading more about this project, view the 1-page pdf here.