Carbon dioxide deep aquifer injection

Deep-well injection of the gas may force briny water to the surface, potentially polluting streams and aquifers. Earthquakes have also been reported in places where deep-well injection has occurred and carbon dioxide can convert to an acid in groundwater. Carbon storage provides a unique advantage, buried in an oil field, the gas boosts oil production by forcing residual deposits to the surface. At Weyburn, oil production is up 50% since carbon dioxide injection began four years ago. 

Saylor, B. Zerai, B. 2004. Injection and trapping of carbon dioxide in deep saline aquifers. In Giere, R. Stille, P. (eds). Energy, Waste, and the Environment a Geochemical Perspective. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 236, 285-296. 

Injection and trapping of carbon dioxide in deep saline aquifers... 

The level of compression of carbon dioxide required is dependent on the disposal option but can generally be said to be in the range of 150-180 bar for disposal in saline aquifers and depleted oil reservoirs. Disposal in coal measures may require less compression (80-100 bar) and deep sea trenches more (250-300 bar). High capacity carbon dioxide injection plants are complex and require multi-stage compression steps. This amount of compression requires significant levels of power, this has been estimated by Saxena and Flintoff and summarised in Table 6.6 for... 

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