Fluid temperature increases before CO2 arrives in highly heterogeneous geologic formations
Heat is released when CO2 dissolves in water. Research by Ph.D. student, Richard Jayne, shows that this heat concentrates in high permeability pathways when CO2 is injected into highly heterogeneous basalt formations. This research suggests that thermal monitoring may be a cost-effective tool for monitoring and verification during CCS operations in highly heterogeneous formations.
By simulating CO2 injections into a synthetic basalt reservoir (A) with permeability typical of the Columbia River Basalt Group (Washington State, USA), Mr. Jayne found that heat flows away from the CO2 plume (B). He also found that temperature begins increasing several months (C) before CO2 breakthrough in the reservoir and more than 4 years (D) before breakthrough in the confining layer.