CarbFix Mineral storage of CO2 in basalt - CO2Geonet

CarbFix Mineral storage of CO2 in basaltBergur Sigfússon (1), Sigurdur R. Gislason (2), Martin Stute(3), Eric H. Oelkers(4), Susan Stipp (5)Einar Gunnlaugsson(1), Holmfridur Sigurdardottir(1), Edda Sif Aradóttir(1), Ingvi Gunnarsson (1),Helgi Alfredsson(2), Juerg M. Matter(3), Domenik Wolff-Boenisch(2), Andri Stefansson(2), GudniAxelsson(6) Kiflom Mesfin(2), Iwona Galeczka(2), Snorri Gudbrandsson(2) Gabrielle Stockman(2),Alex P. Gysi(2) Therese K. Flaathen(2), Mahnaz Rezvani Khalilabad(2), Knud Dideriksen (5), JonasOlsson (5) and Fidel Grandia (7), Wallace S. Broecker(3)(1) Reykjavik Energy, Iceland (2) Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, Iceland (3) EarthInstitute, Columbia University, USA, (4) CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, France, (5) Nano-ScienceCenter, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, (6) Iceland Geosurvey, Iceland, (7) Amphos21, Spain.

The CarbFix ConceptPhoto: J. AleanPhoto: H. SigurdardottirBasalt CO 2 dissolved in Water Carbonates• Basalt contains minerals which can be used for carbon fixation• Bedrock > 90% basaltic• Excellent infrastructure for experiment at the Hellisheidi powerplant• Group of scientist, engineers and technicians• Initially eight PhD and two MSc students

IPCC (2005)

• Icelanders ~4-5 Mt CO 2 /yr– Industrial processes 41%– Transport 23%– Fishing industry 14%– Agriculture 12%– Waste 6%– Geothermal energy 4%Iceland - CO 2 Emission• Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant (300 MWe):– 20-40 g CO 2 /kWh• Fossil fuel sources:– 600-1000 g CO 2 /kWh• Magma: ~ 2 Mt CO 2 /yrSigfús Már PéturssonSigurður R Gíslason

Natural ProcessesCO 2 fully dissolved in fresh waterand injected down to 540 mCO 2 in geothermal steamfrom wells at HellisheiðiFumarolesand hot spring areasAdd carbonates tothe alteration capGeothermal systemsAlteration capSolidifying magmaHeat conductionand naturalCO 2 release

2 L / s of waterpumped to theinjection site0.07 kg/s ofpure CO 2 gas or gasmixture pumped andmixed with the waterThe CO 2 rich waterwill mix with thegroundwater, travelthrough the rockdownstream fromthe injection site andreact with the basalt~2.000 t CO 2 /yrmixed with waterand pumped down to~500 m depth.The HellisheiðiPower Plant:Releasesaround 40.000tons of CO 2 /yr.The CO 2originates fromthe heat source;cooling magmaAlfredsson (2009)

Safety Strategy• Prepare– Site selection and tests– Modeling– Consultation and Licenses• Inject dissolved CO 2 in waterJuerg Matter• Monitor injection and report• Remedy– Fine tune injection– Calibrate models Guðmundur LárussonGuðmundur LárussonOrkustofnun

Experiments 2012-2013• Injection of CO 2 mixedwithH 2 S from the powerplant.– Elevated safety precautions• 130 tons of mixture already injected into two different reservoirs– Low temperature (20-50°C) at 400-800 meters where CO 2mineralisation is predicted to be high– High temperature (>250°C) below 800 meters where H 2 Smineralisation si predicted to be high• Ongoing injection into the low temperature reservoir withextensive monitoring.• Ongoing preparations for further treatment of gas (separation ofCO 2 and H 2 S) and re-injection from one turbine (15-20% of thepowerplant‘s emissions)

Already successful solubility trapping, IF mineral trapping successful:• Possible to demonstrate a “near zero CO 2 emission” geothermal power plant.• Valuable early experience, infrastructure and knowledge base needed for thefuture large-scale injection of CO 2• Long term response of injection reservoirs• Mineral storage of CO 2 in basalts might be a global alternative•Less energy intensive the injection of supercritical CO 2 but large quantities of water and storagevolume are needed. May be used in conjunction12 Sigfús Már Pétursson

Global SignificanceExtensive basalt shields worldwide13