Long-term performance of a mudrock seal in natural CO₂ storage

Lu, J., Wilkinson, M., Haszeldine, R.S. and Fallick, A.E. (2009) Long-term performance of a mudrock seal in natural CO₂ storage. Geology, 37(1), pp. 35-38. (doi: 10.1130/G25412A.1)

Abstract

The ability of mudrock seals to prevent CO₂ leakage is a major concern for geological storage of anthropogenic CO₂. The long-term performance of a mudrock seal, which provides a natural analogue, in the North Sea Miller oil field has been evaluated. This mudrock seal is immediately above a natural CO₂-rich reservoir. The paper reports the stable isotopes of carbon from carbonate minerals in the mudrock that have precipitated in contact with CO₂ during 4 km of burial. A well-defined linear trend of upward-decreasing δ¹³C traces the progressive penetration of free-phase CO₂ causing dissolution and reprecipitation of carbonate minerals. The CO₂ was emplaced ca. 70–80 Ma, and has only penetrated 12 m vertically in this case. The infiltration rate is estimated as ~9.8 x 10^–7g cm^–2 yr^–1. Engineered CO₂ storage under this type of mudrock seal will have a considerable safety margin.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Fallick, Professor Anthony
• Authors: Lu, J., Wilkinson, M., Haszeldine, R.S., and Fallick, A.E.
• Subjects: Q Science > QE Geology
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Geology
• ISSN: 0091-7613

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