The importance of natural laboratories for CCS Prof. Salvatore Lombardi ECCSEL - NatLab Italy team TECTONIC AND FLUID GEOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY CERI RESEARCH CENTRE DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES ECCSEL Training Course on research infrastructures for CO2 storage: specific focus on monitoring and natural laboratories Natural laboratories for long term understanding • CO2 Storage can play a unique role for reducing CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion • Pilot and demonstration projects show that the technology works • However, their life is still short and we are interested to learn more about the long term evolution of storage sites • Gas migration from the reservoir can take thousands to millions of years ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Understanding long term evolution of storage sites: • The experience of the oil&gas sector • Natural laboratories : geological sites that mimic processes that could eventually occur at CO2 storage sites ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Natural laboratories importance: • For testing geophysical and geochemical monitoring methods • For identifying possible gas migration pathways (gas bearing faults) • To verify geological models ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 ECCSEL Sapienza team presentation Tectonic and Fluid Geochemistry Lab EC projects 1. Field investigation with regard to the impermeability 11. CO2 GeoNet, Network of Excellence of Interlaboratory of clay formations (Contr. n ° FI 1W/00063-I; 1989-1991) Connection for CO2 GeologicalStorage (April 2004-March 2. The refinement of soil gas analysis as a geological 2009) investigative technique (Contr. n ° FI 12. Intailrisk Assessment of Environmental Risk of 2W/CT91-0064; 1991-1994) Radioactively Contaminated Industrial 3. Analysis of the geo-environmental conditions as Tailings (contr. N. INCO-CT-2004-509214) (2004-2007) morphological evolution factors of the sand clay 13. MOVECBM - Monitoring and verification of CO2 storage series of the Tiber Valley and Dunarobba forest and ECBM in Poland ContractN 038967 (2006-2008,) preservation (Contr. n ° FI 2W/0121; 1992-1994) 14. CO2 Re.Mo.Ve – EU Integrated Project on Research 4. Geochemical method seismic zonation - seismic into Monitoring and VerificationTechnology of CO2 hazard: a multi-disciplinary approach using fluid Geological Storage – SES6- Contract Number 518350 geochemistry ( ENV 4-CT96-0291; 1996-1998) (2006-20011) 5. Project of research into gas generation and migration 15. INTAS Project: Assessment of the feasibility of the CO2 in radioactive waste repository system( F14W- CT96- storage in the Russian permafrost. 1000025-9220 (2006- 0024; 1996-1999) 2009) 6. Natural analogue of the thermo-hydrochemical and 16. “Research into Impact and Safety in CO2 storage thermo-hydromechanical response of clay barriers (RISCS) - Call FP7-ENERGY-2009-1: (F14W CT 95014; 1996-1999) ;autumn 2009-autumn 2013) 7. Natural Analogues to the Storage of CO2 in the 17. ECO2 “Sub-seabed CO2 storage: Impact on marine Geological Environment (NASCENT). NNE5-2000-00095 eco-systems” 8. Assessment and Prognosis of Environmental 18. CGS Europe “Pan-European coordination action on Changes in Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgystan) (APELIK). CO2 Geological Storage” Project n ICA2-CT-2000-10003 19. EUROFLEET “Towards an Alliance of European 9. The Weyburn CO2 Monitoring Project – “Weyburn” Research Fleets” (sub-contractor) Project n ° NNE5-2000- 00096 20. SITEChar “Characterisation of European CO2Storage” 10. Contribution of high density gas seeps in the Black 21. R&Dialog . Sea to methane emission in the 22 ENOS . atmosphere. CRIMEA. CE, EWK2-2001-00322 23 RESPIRE ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 ECCSEL Sapienza team presentation Tectonic and Fluid Geochemistry Lab Sapienza’ researchers have been pioneers and leaders in the study of Italian natural laboratories . On 23 international project funded by EC, 12 have been focused on gas migration studies and monitoring in several geological structures ( Natural Laboratories ) that have been used for: Understanding gas migration Testing geochemical and geophysical Sapienza monitoring tools team Verification of geological models Studying potential impact at surface ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Why Italian natural labs? • Soil gas samples collected throughout central-southern Sketch map of Italy during the last 25 years for the main Italian various projects related to: geological features – Tectonic / structural / fault / volcano research Adriatic Sea – Geothermal / oil-gas / mineral exploration – Environment / nuclear waste – CO2 disposal • Database has >40,000 samples for helium and over Tyrrhenian Sea 25,000 for CO 2 and CH 4 • Water chemistry and stable isotope of the major spring in the Central Appennine • Structural geology surveys have been also performed ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Why Italian natural labs? Apennines thrust front Field soil gas surveys I Performed in Italy (in green -1980- 2010 Introductory note on gas emanation Introduction Deep seated gas migration may give at surface macro and micro seeps – Macro seeps are: • usually visible gas vents, • may have significant impact on the environment , even if usually at very small scale only, • mainly occur in volcanic and geothermal areas, over natural CO2 fields, along major neogenic (active) faults – Micro seeps are: • Not visible gas emanations, detectable only by instruments • Do not have any impact on shallow environment • May be very useful: for detecting gas migration pathways and as early warning signal of gas migration from deep seated reservoirs ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Macro leaks – gas vent ….Literally close to our doors Main gas vent at An example of macro leaks on shore at Ciampino town (Alban Hills - Roman Volcanic CO2 flux about 7 tons/dayProvince) Italy Houses are only 50 m away from the fence of a gas vent with a flux of Housesmore than are 7 about tons of 50m CO2 fromper day the fence ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Micro seep:seeps: as as indicator indicator of gas of gas migration migration around aroundan injection an injection well well at Kaniow (Poland) Micro seeps Around the CO2 injection well at Kaniow (Poland) CO 2 CO 2 flux The detection of a complete set of gases is needed for understanding CO2 baseline CH 4 4He ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Geothermal fields and volcanoes as natural labs (going from the western margin toward the eastern margin of Italy) Almost all the Italian volcanic and geothermal areas have been studied by means of geochemical surveys, mainly soil gas survey, from the extinct volcanoes of Tuscany and Latium to the active ones such as Mt. Etna, Vesuvio, Volcano, etc.. Two of these areas are part of the natural labs recognised by ECCSEL: Latera caldera Panarea ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Geophysical and geochemical surveys performed at Latera caldera RESEARCHES PERFORMED BY RESEARCHES PERFORMED BY OGS SAPIENZA TEAM Deep seismic profile Soil gas and CO 2 flux Water chemistry Remote sensing ( OGS – BGS –Sapienza ) Gas injection tests through faults Structural survey RESEARCHES PERFORMED BY: Verification of a gas migration through BRGM – BGS – TNO - SAPIENZA faults models using field data Ground Penetrating Radar Study of CO2 impacts on biosphere Geo-electrical survey Microgravity Magnetometer Shallow seismic profilea Electromagnetic survey Geo-electrical survey (resistivity survey) Spectral induced polarization Self Potential Mapping Time Domain EM Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) Surface water conductivity survey ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Deep seated gas migration in the Tyrrhenian Margin (Fiumicino natural Lab, Rome) CO2 baseline at Fiumicino area (Rome) Both shallow and deep CO2 component are present in this baseline ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Deep seated gas migration in the Tyrrhenian Margin (Fiumicino natural Lab, Rome) Subheading • First level – Second level • Third level – Fourth level 3D representation of the main geological, structural and geochemical feature at Fiumicino area (Rome) ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Active faults as Natural Labs • Natural Lab in central Apennines along active (neogenic) faults: – S. Vittorino plain – Fucino plain – Col Pasquale (Umbria earthquake) ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 Impact on shallow environments Sinkhole overview About 100 meters About 15 meters In specific geological situation acidic water due to the uprising of CO2 may produce sinkhole (very high water flow, presence of sediments with carbonate cement, CO2 emanation lasting for a very long period) ECCSEL training course Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 HELIUM-4 IN SOIL AIR AT S: Vittorino X XX X X X X X XX X XX X XXX XXX ECCSEL training course, Eart ScincesXX Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017 X XXXXX X X X X X X X XXXXX X X XXX Fault Micciani fault