2 Advancements in Geologic Carbon Sequestration in Basalt

Wednesday, 15 May 2024
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Meeting Room 2

HIGH INJECTIVITY AND REACTIVITY HYALOCLASTITE RESERVOIRS FOR CARBON MINERALIZATION STORAGE IN COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

Paper number: 2-8
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 10:15 AM – 10:35 AM

Authors

  • Ruoshi Cao Presenting Author
    Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
  • Stephen Reidel
    Washington State University-Tricities, Richland, WA
  • Jana Simo
    Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA
  • Todd Schaef
    Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland

Abstract

Commercialization of decarbonization solutions is urgently needed to curb the impact of CO2 emissions, and to contribute to the solution space to achieve the Net Zero by 2050 scenario set out by the IEA. In the Pacific Northwest geologic carbon storage in reactive reservoirs, offers a promising route. In the region, basalt flows abound and provide an ideal site to permanently sequester gigatons of CO2 as stable carbonates. The PNNL-led Wallula pilot project in Washington state has successfully demonstrated that 60% of the injected CO2 were mineralized in 2 years in the composite interflow zones. When selecting sites to upscale the technology for commercial deployment, reservoirs with good lateral continuity and porosity are needed to achieve higher injection rate (e.g., minimum 50 million tons of CO2 stored in 30 years, US DOE CarbonSAFE initiative). The hyaloclastite facies, created where advancing lava encountered bodies of water or saturated sediments, offers high porosity (up to 86% at ~1,300 m depth), high groundwater productivity, and high glass content based on well log, aquifer testing, outcrop, and well cutting data. As the most reactive component in basalt, high glass content is the key to promote faster mineralization rate for the injected CO2. Our investigation shows that the earliest Grande Ronde and Wanapum time paleogeography-controlled ancestral drainage systems and lava flow emplacement created laterally continuous hyaloclastite facies reinforced by naturally occurring calcite and anchorite. These reservoirs have large storage capacity and suitable reservoir conditions for sequestering CO2. Our reconnaissance for the occurrences of the hyaloclastite reservoirs in the Columbia Basin offers guidance for future site-specific data collection and presents great opportunity to derisk the commercialization of carbon mineralization storage in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 56, No. 4

doi: 10.1130/abs/2024CD-399790

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