Long-term propagation of CO2 plume below the seal accounting for chemical reactions and water counter-flow

Abstract

Accurate prediction of long-term CO2 plume migration beneath seals is crucial for the viability of CO2 storage in deep saline aquifers. Groundwater counterflow and chemical reactions between CO2, brine, and rock significantly influence plume dynamics, dispersion, and boundary evolution. This study develops a novel analytical framework by deriving governing equations for gravity-driven gas migration and obtaining exact self-similar solutions for both pulse and continuous injection. The approach explicitly incorporates chemical reactions and water counterflow, addressing factors often neglected in existing analytical models. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to evaluate the effects of key parameters on CO2 migration. The results show that increasing the chemical reaction coefficient delays the first arrival of CO2 while accelerating its final arrival, highlighting the impact of geochemical reactions on plume migration. Additionally, higher up-dip water velocity shortens the accumulation period, thereby reducing the time required for CO2 to become trapped in geological formations. These findings improve predictive capabilities for long-term CO2 storage and provide insights for optimising sequestration strategies.