Eruption dynamics of CO2-driven cold-water geysers: Crystal, Tenmile geysers in Utah and Chimayó geyser in New Mexico

Abstract

Available online xxxx Editor: P. Shearer Keywords: geyser CO 2 -driven eruptions faults carbon sequestration wellbore leakageThe CO 2 bubble volume fraction, eruption velocity, flash depth and mass emission of CO 2 were determined from multiple wellbore CO 2 -driven cold-water geysers (Crystal and Tenmile geysers, in Utah and Chimayó geyser in New Mexico). At shallow depths the bubble volume fraction ranges from 0 to 0.8, eruption velocities range from 2 to 20 m/s and flash depths are predominately shallow ranging from 5 to 40 m below the surface. Annual emission of CO 2 is estimated to be (4.77 ± 1.92) × 10 3 , (6.17 ± 1.73) × 10 1 , (6.54 ± 0.57) × 10 1 t/yr for Crystal, Tenmile and Chimayó geysers, respectively.These estimates are coherent with Burnside et al. (2013) showing that the rate of CO 2 leakage from wellbores is greater than fault-parallel or diffuse CO 2 leakage. The geyser plumbing geometry consists of a vertical wellbore which allows for the upward migration of CO 2 -rich fluids due to artesian conditions. The positive feedback system of a CO 2 -driven eruption occurs within the well. Active inflow of CO 2 into the regional aquifers through faulted bedrock allows geysering to persist for decades. Crystal geyser erupts for over 24 h at a time, highlighting the potential for a wellbore in a natural environment to reach relatively steady-state high velocity discharge. Mitigating high velocity CO 2 -driven discharge from wellbores will, however, be easier than mitigating diffuse leakage from faults or into groundwater systems.

The Fascinating and Complex Dynamics of Geyser Eruptions

“…There is interest in CO 2 -driven geysers because they capture some of the processes that would arise if CO 2 leaked into faults and wellbores during geological carbon sequestration and storage. All of the reported cold geysers are wells that were drilled into carbonate units (e.g., Glennon & Pfaff 2004, Bissig et al 2006, Watson et al 2014. For example, the CO 2 discharged from Crystal and Tenmile geysers in the northern Paradox Basin near Green River, Utah, originates from thermal decomposition of marine carbonates (Watson et al 2014).…”

“…All of the reported cold geysers are wells that were drilled into carbonate units (e.g., Glennon & Pfaff 2004, Bissig et al 2006, Watson et al 2014. For example, the CO 2 discharged from Crystal and Tenmile geysers in the northern Paradox Basin near Green River, Utah, originates from thermal decomposition of marine carbonates (Watson et al 2014). There are no reports of soda (CO 2 -rich) springs with a geysering fountain, possibly implying that deposition of silica-rich sinter (geyserite) is important for most natural geysers.…”

“…The next eruption must wait until leakage of CO 2 into the conduit allows the gas concentration to become high enough to nucleate bubbles. There are thus self-promoting and self-limiting processes that lead to geysering behavior (e.g., Lu et al 2005, Han et al 2013, Watson et al 2014, where the input of CO 2 plays a similar role to the input of heat in normal hydrothermal geysers, and the eruptions are sustained by a positive feedback between pressure decrease and gasfraction increase. Subsurface geometry may differ, however: Cold geysers probably do not require the separate chamber or bubble trap that appears to be common at hydrothermal geysers.…”

Regional‐scale advective, diffusive, and eruptive dynamics of CO2 and brine leakage through faults and wellbores

“…Accordingly, the minimum eruption height was reduced (18 m) while the maximum height was still large (40 m). At present, the eruption still remains unimodal but shows a much longer interval (72–87 h) and duration (25–28 h), indicating a constant decrease of vigor in eruption [ Han et al , ; Watson et al , ] (Figure a).…”

On Fluid and Thermal Dynamics in a Heterogeneous CO2 Plume Geothermal Reservoir

“…This phenomenon is caused by the CO 2 accumulation in production; when it exceeds a certain quantity, an eruption event would take place. This phenomenon can likely account for some cold geysers eruptions [24,25]. After the eruption, the content of water in the mixture fluids goes down.…”