Is there a possibility of the injected CO2 entering artesian water or a higher water table. And, if so, what is likely to happen to that water?
A. The chances of CO2 entering water close to the surface are extremely small and even then the consequences would be minimal as the volumes of CO2 would be very small. This is because the rock immediately above where we plan to inject the CO2 is impermeable and would not allow the gas to pass through it. This is what we refer to as cap rock or a seal. Despite this, if by some means the CO2 did pass through the cap rock, there is another layer of rocks containing saline water in which CO2 would dissolve, and this is overlain by another seal. This sequence of impermeable rocks and porous rocks repeats itself several times in the area into which we plan to inject CO2 and will fully protect the shallow aquifers that are used by farmers.
