Aerometric measurement and modeling of the mass of CO2 emissions from Crystal Geyser, Utah

Abstract

Crystal Geyser in eastern Utah is a rare, non-geothermal geyser that emits carbon dioxide gas in periodic eruptions. This geyser is the largest single source of CO 2 originating from a deep reservoir. For this study, the amount of CO 2 emitted from Crystal Geyser is estimated through measurements of downwind CO 2 air concentration applied to an analytical model for atmospheric dispersion. Five eruptions occurred during the 48-hour field study, for a total of almost 3 hours of eruption. Pre-eruption emissions were also timed and sampled. Slow wind during three of the active eruptions conveyed the plume over a grid of samplers arranged in arcs from 25 to 100 m away from the geyser. An analytical, straight-line Gaussian model matched the pattern of concentration measurements. Plume width was determined from least-squares fit of the CO 2 concentrations integrated over time. The CO 2 emission rate was found to be between 2.6 and 5.8 kg/s during the eruption events, and about 0.17 kg/s during the active pre-eruptive events. Our limited field study can be extrapolated to an annual CO 2 emission of 12 kilotonnes from this geyser. As this is the first application of Gaussian dispersion modeling and objective timing to CO 2 emissions from a geyser of any type, the present study demonstrates the feasibility of applying this method more completely in the future.

Drilling and sampling a natural CO2 reservoir: Implications for fluid flow and CO2-fluid–rock reactions during CO2 migration through the overburden

“…10) Crystal Geyser exhibits a bimodal eruption 388 pattern of large eruption events that last between 1-1.5 hours (Type B; Han et al, 2013) and 389 5-7 hours (Type D; Han et al, 2013) and which occur every 7-10 hours or 20-30 hours, 390 respectively (see also; Gouveia and Friedmann, 2006;Gouveia et al, 2005). Type B and D 391 eruptions are separated by periods of small frequent low magnitude 'bubbling events' that 392 occur approximately every 15 minutes, termed Type A and C eruptions following the 393 nomenclature of Han et al, (2013) (Fig.…”

Scientific drilling and downhole fluid sampling of a natural CO<sub>2</sub> reservoir, Green River, Utah

“…The stacked sequence of reservoirs, the relatively shallow depth (160-350 m) of the upper CO 2 -bearing reservoir, the Navajo Sandstone and the prior knowledge of the site made it an excellent drilling target Baer and Rigby, 1978;Burnside et al, 2013;Dockrill and Shipton, 2010;Evans et al, 2004;Gouveia and Friedmann, 2006;Gouveia et al, 2005;Han et al, 2013;Kampman et al, 2009Kampman et al, , 2012Shipton et al, 2004Shipton et al, , 2005Wigley et al, 2012Wilkinson et al, 2009). …”

Analysis of Potential Leakage Pathways and Mineralization within Caprocks for Geologic Storage of CO₂

“…At Green River, CO 2 --laden fluid leaks to the surface along the crest of the Green River anticline through a number of abandoned petroleum exploration wells and the through the damage zone of the footwall block of the Little Grand Wash and Salt Wash normal fault systems (Dockrill and Shipton, 2010;Shipton et al, 2005;Shipton et al, 2004). The 160--330m depth of the upper CO 2 --bearing reservoir, the Navajo Sandstone, around Green River and the prior knowledge of the site made it an excellent drilling target Baer and Rigby, 1978;Burnside et al, 2013;Dockrill and Shipton, 2010;Evans et al, 2004;Gouveia and Friedmann, 2006;Gouveia et al, 2005;Gratier et al, 2012;Han et al, 2013;Wigley et al, 2013a;Wigley et al, 2013b;Wigley et al, 2012;Wilkinson et al, 2009). …”