How much do we know about the geologic and geochemical setting of prospective CO2 storage reservoirs?
Models of prospective geologic reservoirs are, in the best cases, constructed using geostatistical methods that combine often sparse and variable datasets to predict geologic storage formation characteristics and the performance of the caprocks that must prevent the CO2 from leaking into other subsurface resources or back into the atmosphere. These models consider structural geology, mineralogy, permeability, porosity, eventual CO2-brine chemistry, and fracture type and frequency. We are building on the extensive databases developed by the DOE Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships, state geological surveys (e.g., Ohio State Survey) and university geologic repositories (e.g., Western Michigan University Geological Repository) to develop methods to quantify uncertainties and heterogeneities of reservoir formations, performance criteria and pore-water geochemistry that ultimately define how well we understand these critical processes. The databases and model results will also provide
