Saline Aquifer CO2 Sequestration Calculator
Subsurface Reservoir Geomechanics: Estimate effective carbon dioxide storage capacity ($M_{CO2}$ in Megatonnes), pore pressure fracture gradients, and plume footprint radius.
Aquifer Reservoir Geometry
Storage Efficiency & Geomechanics
Geological Storage Capacity Results
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Geological Carbon Sequestration & Aquifer Capacity (US DOE)
Permanent deep underground storage prevents captured $CO_2$ from entering the atmospheric carbon cycle through structural, capillary, dissolution, and mineral trapping.
1. Volumetric Storage Capacity Formula
M_CO2 = A · h_net · φ · ρ_CO2,res · E_storage [kg or Megatonnes]
2. Caprock Integrity & Maximum Bottom-Hole Pressure
P_hydrostatic = ρ_brine · g · Z P_fracture = Gradient_frac · Z P_injection,limit = 0.90 · P_fracture
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are deep saline aquifers the largest potential geological carbon sink?
Deep saline aquifers (permeable sandstone or carbonate formations saturated with unusable saltwater at depths $>800\,\text{m}$) offer global $CO_2$ storage capacities estimated in the thousands of gigatonnes—orders of magnitude larger than depleted oil and gas reservoirs. At depths exceeding 800m, hydrostatic pressure keeps $CO_2$ in dense supercritical state.
What is the US DOE storage efficiency factor (E_s)?
The storage efficiency factor ($E_s$) represents the fraction of total pore volume ($V_{pore} = A \cdot h \cdot \phi$) that can practically be occupied by injected $CO_2$. Because of buoyancy override (light supercritical $CO_2$ floats to the top of the formation), viscous fingering, and regional pressure buildup, $E_s$ typically ranges between $1.5\%$ and $4.0\%$ for open saline aquifers.
How is the maximum sustainable CO2 injection pressure determined?
To guarantee that the overlying impermeable caprock seal is not hydraulically fractured or breached, injection pressure at the formation depth is strictly capped at $90\%$ of the formation breakdown / fracture pressure ($P_{max} = 0.90 \cdot Z \cdot \text{gradient}_{frac}$).