CO2 disposal as hydrate in ocean sediments

Abstract Reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions is becoming a significant environmental goal and undertaking worldwide, and is expected to be a major concern in the future. In this regard, sequestration of CO 2 in geological formations is of great interest. However, CO 2 is buoyant under the pressure-temperature conditions of typical geological sites, contributing to the risk of leakage. Storage of CO 2 as hydrate avoids this limitation. Much of the ocean sediments at depths of a few hundred meters below the ocean floor provide appropriate conditions for CO 2 hydrate formation. Furthermore, ocean sediments may provide conditions at which the density of liquid CO 2 is greater than the density of water, making liquid CO 2 gravitationally stable (i.e., non-buoyant). In this study, we investigate storage of CO 2 as hydrate below the ocean floor. We identify conditions where the initial pressure-temperature conditions are suitable for CO 2 hydrate formation and demonstrate the effect of changes caused by injection. In particular, the changes in pressure as a result of injection and the increase in temperature due to hydrate formation, both of which could lead to upward movement of CO 2 , are investigated. Sensitivity studies are conducted to determine appropriate conditions for large scale CO 2 storage. In particular, the effects of ocean depth and injection depth in the sediment on flow of CO 2 toward the ocean floor are studied. The results of calculations for static conditions and modeling under dynamic conditions show that CO 2 hydrate formation and gravitational stability of CO 2 in the upper parts of the ocean sediments for some areas of the ocean can restrict upwards flow of CO 2 toward the seabed. If the ocean depth and sediment depth for injection of CO 2 are properly chosen, large volumes of CO 2 can be reliably stored in the sediment.

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