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Multiple steady states in exchange flows across faults and the dissolution of $\text{CO}_{2}$

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 March 2015

Andrew W. Woods ,
Marc Hesse ,
Rachel Berkowitz  and
Kyung Won Chang
Andrew W. Woods*
Affiliation:
BP Institute, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, UK
Marc Hesse
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
Rachel Berkowitz
Affiliation:
BP Institute, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, UK
Kyung Won Chang
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
*
†Email address for correspondence: andy@bpi.cam.ac.uk
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Abstract

We develop a model of the steady exchange flows which may develop between two aquifers at different levels in the geological strata and across which there is an unstable density stratification, as a result of their connection through a series of fractures. We show that in general there are multiple steady exchange flows which can develop, depending on the initial conditions, and which may involve a net upwards or downwards volume flux. We also show that there is a family of equilibrium exchange flows with zero net volume flux, each characterised by a different interlayer flux of buoyancy. We present experiments which confirm our simplified model of the exchange flow. Such exchange flows may supply unsaturated water from a deep aquifer to drive dissolution of a structurally trapped pool of geologically stored $\text{CO}_{2}$ , once the water in the aquifer containing the trapped pool of $\text{CO}_{2}$ has become saturated in $\text{CO}_{2}$ , and hence relatively dense. Such exchange flows may also lead to cross-contamination of aquifer fluids, which may be of relevance in assessing risks of geological storage systems.

JFM classification

Convection: Convection Low-Reynolds-number flows: Porous media

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Papers
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Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 769 , 25 April 2015 , pp. 229 - 241
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© 2015 Cambridge University Press 

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