Effects of Hydrogeological Heterogeneity on CO2 Migration and Mineral Trapping: 3D Reactive Transport Modeling of Geological CO2 Storage in the Mt. Simon Sandstone, Indiana, USA

We used three-dimensional (3D), high-resolution simulations facilitated by parallel computation to assess the effect of hydrogeological heterogeneity in Mt. Simon Sandstone on CO2 plume evolution and storage geochemical reactions a portion Illinois Basin, Indiana. Two scenarios were selected investigate effects 3D reactive transport simulations: heterogeneous case with variable porosity permeability, homogenous constant permeability. The initial pressure, temperature, mineralogical distributions are consistently applied both homogeneous case. Results indicate that including reservoir for geological significantly impacts modeling results migration patterns, CO2-water-mineral interaction, quality, containment. In particular, (1) reached top case, but was restrained lower third formation when hydrogeologic considered; (2) dominant trapping mechanism mineral (43%), while it solubility (47%) (at 10,000 years); (3) incorporating model leads higher likelihood long-term