Post on 19-Jan-2023
Prof. Salvatore Lombardi
ECCSEL - NatLab Italy team
The importance of natural laboratories for CCS
TECTONIC AND FLUID GEOCHEMISTRY LABORATORYCERI RESEARCH CENTREDEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES
ECCSEL Training Course on research infrastructures for CO2 storage:
specific focus on monitoring and natural laboratories
Natural laboratories forlong 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
1. Field investigation with regard to the impermeability
of clay formations (Contr. n° FI 1W/00063-I; 1989-1991)2. The refinement of soil gas analysis as a geological
investigative technique (Contr. n° FI2W/CT91-0064; 1991-1994)3. Analysis of the geo-environmental conditions as morphological evolution factors of the sand clayseries of the Tiber Valley and Dunarobba forest
preservation (Contr. n° FI 2W/0121; 1992-1994)4. Geochemical method seismic zonation - seismic hazard: a multi-disciplinary approach using fluid geochemistry ( ENV 4-CT96-0291; 1996-1998)5. Project of research into gas generation and migration in radioactive waste repository system( F14W- CT96-0024; 1996-1999)6. Natural analogue of the thermo-hydrochemical and thermo-hydromechanical response of clay barriers (F14W CT 95014; 1996-1999)7. Natural Analogues to the Storage of CO2 in the Geological Environment (NASCENT). NNE5-2000-00095 8. Assessment and Prognosis of Environmental Changes in Lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgystan) (APELIK). Project n ICA2-CT-2000-10003 9. The Weyburn CO2 Monitoring Project – “Weyburn”
(sub-contractor) Project n° NNE5-2000- 0009610. Contribution of high density gas seeps in the Black Sea to methane emission in theatmosphere. CRIMEA. CE, EWK2-2001-00322
11. CO2 GeoNet, Network of Excellence of InterlaboratoryConnection for CO2 GeologicalStorage (April 2004-March 2009)12. Intailrisk Assessment of Environmental Risk of Radioactively Contaminated IndustrialTailings (contr. N. INCO-CT-2004-509214) (2004-2007)13. MOVECBM - Monitoring and verification of CO2 storage and ECBM in Poland ContractN 038967 (2006-2008,)14. CO2 Re.Mo.Ve – EU Integrated Project on Research into Monitoring and VerificationTechnology of CO2 Geological Storage – SES6- Contract Number 518350 (2006-20011)15. INTAS Project: Assessment of the feasibility of the CO2 storage in the Russian permafrost. 1000025-9220 (2006-2009)16. “Research into Impact and Safety in CO2 storage (RISCS) - Call FP7-ENERGY-2009-1:;autumn 2009-autumn 2013)17. ECO2 “Sub-seabed CO2 storage: Impact on marine eco-systems”18. CGS Europe “Pan-European coordination action on CO2 Geological Storage”19. EUROFLEET “Towards an Alliance of European Research Fleets”20. SITEChar “Characterisation of European CO2Storage”21. R&Dialog .22 ENOS .23 RESPIRE
EC projects
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
monitoring tools
� Verification of geological models
� Studying potential impact at surface
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
Sapienzateam
Why Italian natural labs?
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
Tyrrhenian Sea
Adriatic Sea
• Soil gas samples collected throughout central-southern Italy during the last 25 years for various projects related to:
– Tectonic / structural / fault / volcano research
– Geothermal / oil-gas / mineral exploration
– Environment / nuclear waste –CO2 disposal
• Database has >40,000 samples for helium and over 25,000 for CO2 and CH4
• Water chemistry and stable isotope of the major spring in the Central Appennine
• Structural geology surveys have been also performed
Sketch map of
the main Italian
geological
features
Apennines
thrust front
Why Italian natural labs?
IField soil gas surveys
Performed in Italy
(in green -1980- 2010
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
IntroductionIntroductory note on gas emanation
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
Macro leaks – gas vent
Main gas vent at
CO2 flux about 7 tons/day
Houses are about 50m fromthe fence
An example of macro leaks on shore at Ciampino town (Alban Hills - Roman Volcanic Province) Italy Houses are only 50 m away from the fence of a gas vent with a flux of more than 7 tons of CO2 per day
….Literally close to our doors
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
CO2 CO2 flux
CH4 4He
Micro seepsAround the CO2 injection well at Kaniow (Poland)
The detection of a complete set of gases is needed for understanding CO2 baseline
Micro seep: as indicator of gas migration
around an injection well at Kaniow (Poland)
Micro seeps: as indicator of gas migration around an injection well
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)
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
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
Geophysical and geochemical surveys performed at Latera caldera
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
RESEARCHES PERFORMED BY
SAPIENZA TEAM
Soil gas and CO2 flux
Water chemistry
Gas injection tests through faults
Structural survey
Verification of a gas migration through
faults models using field data
Ground Penetrating Radar
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
RESEARCHES PERFORMED BY OGS
Deep seismic profileRemote sensing (OGS – BGS –Sapienza)
RESEARCHES PERFORMED BY: BRGM – BGS – TNO - SAPIENZA
Study of CO2 impacts on biosphereGeo-electrical survey
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
About 100
meters
About 15
meters
Sinkhole overview
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
0 1 km0.25
Gas Vent
X
XXXXXX
XXX
XXXXX
XX
XX
XXX
X
X
XXXX
XXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX
XX
X
X Sinkhole
FaultMicciani faultInferred fault
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University,
29/03/2017
ECCSEL training course
Eart Scinces Department,
Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
ECCSEL training course, Eart
Scinces Department, Sapienza
Rome University, 29/03/2017
Gas Vent
X SinkholeFault Micciani fault Inferred fault
XXX XX
XX
XXX
XXXX
X
XX
XX
XX X
XX
X X
X
X
X
XXX
X
sinkholes
recent sinkhole
sept 03
CO20.05 up to 70%
CH40.2 up to 19396ppm
CH4 = 900 ppm
CO2 = 10%
CO2 distribution in soil gas
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
4m
Sinkhole
of new formation
(New
sinkhole
photosoil gas survey)
San Vittorino plain - pCO2 map
X
XXX
X
XX
X
XXXXXX
XXXX
XXX
XX
X
X
XXX
X
XXXX
XXX
XX
XXXXXX
X
X
X
Anomalous area
Gas vents
Sinkholes
0.6-1.2
0.3-0.6
0-0.3
pH < 6.5
pCO2 (atm)
ECCSEL training course,
Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza
Rome University, 29/03/2017
Umbria 1997 earthquake
• In the following slides results from discontinuous
monitoring using soil gas surveys at Col Pasquale
immidiately after the 1997 Umbria earthquake will
be presented
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
CO2 (%, v/v)
-0.5
0.5
1.5
2.5
3.5
4.5
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
1999
1998
1997b
1997a
Helium (ppb)
-500
500
1500
2500
3500
4500
-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
1997
1998
1999
Radon (Bq/l)
-50
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
1997a
1997b
1998
1999
Expected Normal Value
Expected Normal ValueExpected Normal Value
Normal Probability Plots:Normal Probability Plots: this type of graph is used to choose
threshold values between anomalous
and background geochemical data
based on partitionating a cumulative
probability plot of data sets (ranging in
complexity from a single to many
populations).
The comparison of soil-gasconcentrations during the threeyears highlights a concentrationvalue increase.
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
One year after the mainshock, Rn values reachconcentration peaks >150 Bq/l and anomaliesare elongated followingpreferential directions.
September 1999
0 0.2 km0.1
Data from the first twocampaigns reveal relativelylow Rn values (>100 Bq/l)homogenously distributed
September 1998
The radon concentration anomalies (anomalous values > 300 Bq/l) outline a NW-SE preferential migration direction.
October 1997September 1997
linear anomaly
Radon soil-gas results – Colpasquale areaRadon soil-gas results – Colpasquale area
Focal mechanisms indicate normalfaulting on NW-SE striking faultplanes with tension axes oriented inthe range 40°-60° (from Ekstromet al., 1997).
The study of spatial behaviour of Rnvalues by means of variographyhighlights a major anisotropy axes NW-SE oriented.
Fucino Plain Natural Lab
In the Fucino Valley an earthquake of >6M occurred in 1905. The highest values of Rn, CO2, 4He in soil gas correspond to the reactivated faults.
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
Fucino Plain Natural Lab
Strada 22
VHRS -S.Benedetto dei MarsiSan Benedetto
dei Marsi village
A
A'San Benedetto
dei Marsifault scarps
Soil gasprofile
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
Natural labs in foredeep basinsAdriatic margin - compressive tectonic
• Natural Labs in the Adriatic margin in area characterized by compressive tectonic and clayey cover with thickness ranging from 1000 to 2000m
– Vasto plain (gas field)
– Lucera plain (faulted clayey sequence)
(Foredeep–Foreland domain, low geothermal
gradient, low seismicity)
CO2 leaking sites (Foredeep–Foreland domain, low geothermal gradient, low seismicity)
• Vasto Basin (A)
• Lucera Plain (B)
Bertello et al., 2008
simplified geological map of Italy
showing the location of the major CO2
point sources
(A)
(B)
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
ECCSEL training
course, Eart Scinces
Department,
• Map of the location of the hydrocarbon reservoirs, as well as some of the productive and or exploration wells.
• The map also shows the thickness of the sedimentary cover, as isopach contour lines, calculated using the information obtained from the exploration boreholes.
THE VASTO BASIN (Abruzzo, central Italy)
ECCSEL training course, Eart
Scinces Department, Sapienza
Rome University, 29/03/2017
VASTO (1987/88)
contour map of He
concentration
(Regional sempling)
ECCSEL training course, Eart
Scinces Department, Sapienza
Rome University, 29/03/2017
THE VASTO BASIN (Abruzzo, central Italy)
VASTO (2004/05)
contour map of Heconcentration
(Regional sampling)
Lucera
Carta gravimetrica
Lago di LesinaLago di Varano
PROMONTORIODEL
GARGANO
S. SEVERO
FOGGIA
TORREMAGGIORE
S. MARCOIN LAMIS
0 10 20 30km
LUCERA
Gravimetric minimum
Cross - Section
Contour interval: 5 mGal
Soil-gas transect
Inferred fault
LEGEND
Gravimetric maximum
20
A B
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
2.15 g/cm
marly clays and sands
0
q=
conglomerates andalluvial deposits
-3000
a.s.l. 0
metr
es-1000
-2500
-2000
-1500
-500
A
clays andsands
2.00 g/cm1.80 g/cm q=3 3 q=
F4 SW 48 km
Horizontal scale: 1/200.000
clayey marlsand sands
2.25 g/cm3 q= 3 2.60 g/cm
limestones
q= 3
fault
BNE
0 4.8 9.6 14.4 19.2 24 28.8 33.6 38.4 43.2 48 kmSW NE
A B
1
2
3
4
5
a.s.l. 0
-1000
-1500
-2000
-2500
-3000
me
tre
s
MODEL GRAVITY PROFILE
(Di Filippo et al., 1997)
Soil gas radon profileacross the Candelarofault system
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
10
30
50
70
90
110
130
150
Rn (
Bq/L)
Lucera village
BG
anomaly
threshold
F F
BGAnomalyMovingaverage
up to 17 %
0
2
4
6
8
CO
2 (
%,
v/v)
F F
Lucera village
Soil gas CO2 profileacross the Candelarofault system
Foredeep Basin (FD) – Lucera Plain (southern Italy)
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017
Final remarks
• Italy is a region of widespread natural CO2 degassing from well documented surface seeps.
• The different geological scenarios that characterize the Italian territory provide important information about the gas behavior.
• In particular, different Natural Labs can be used for understanding long term gas behaviour:
– The study of CO2 macro-seeps in test sites along the Tyrrhenian margin and Apennine chain have proven a valuable tool for health risk assessment, monitoring techniques, and understanding and predicting CO2 leakage pathways and fluxes.
– The study of CO2 micro-seeps in the analogues of the fore deep basins provides information on trapping mechanism and caprock integrity.
ECCSEL training course, Eart Scinces Department, Sapienza Rome University, 29/03/2017