Potential for deep geological sequestration of CO2 in Switzerland: a first appraisal

Chevalier, Gabriel; Diamond, Larryn W.; Leu, W.

doi:10.1007/s00015-010-0030-4

Cited by 52 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Dolomites of the Middle Triassic Upper Muschelkalk are a major stratigraphic unit of central Europe with an areal extent of more than 100 000 km 2 across Switzerland, Germany and France. Locally they serve as shallow freshwater aquifers, and in their deeper realms their saline aquifer properties show potential for CO 2 storage and geothermal energy (Chevalier et al ., ). The major replacive dolomite horizon in the Upper Muschelkalk, the Trigonodus Dolomit, is no exception to the ‘dolomite problem’ (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dolomitization by hypersaline reflux into dense groundwaters as revealed by vertical trends in strontium and oxygen isotopes: Upper Muschelkalk, Switzerland

2018

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The Trigonodus Dolomit is the dolomitized portion of the homoclinal ramp sediments of the Middle Triassic Upper Muschelkalk in the south‐east Central European Basin. Various dolomitizing mechanisms, followed by recrystallization, have been previously invoked to explain the low δ18O, high 87Sr/86Sr, extensive spatial distribution and early nature of the replacive matrix dolomites. This study re‐evaluates the origin, timing and characteristics of the dolomitizing fluids by examining petrographic and isotopic trends in the Trigonodus Dolomit at 11 boreholes in northern Switzerland. In each borehole the ca 30 m thick unit displays the same vertical trends with increasing depth: crystal size increase, change from anhedral to euhedral textures, ultraviolet‐fluorescence decrease, δ18OVPDB decrease from −1·0‰ at the top to −6·7‰ at the base and an 87Sr/86Sr increase from 0·7080 at the top to 0·7117 at the base. Thus, dolomites at the top of the unit record isotopic values similar to Middle Triassic seawater (δ18OVSMOW = 0‰; 87Sr/86Sr = 0·70775) while dolomites at the base record values similar to meteoric groundwaters from the nearby Vindelician High (δ18OVSMOW = −4·0‰; 87Sr/86Sr = >0·712). According to water–rock interaction modelling, a single dolomitizing or recrystallizing fluid cannot have produced the observed isotopic trends. Instead, the combined isotopic, geochemical and petrographic data can be explained by dolomitization via seepage‐reflux of hypersaline brines into dense, horizontally‐advecting groundwaters that already had negative δ18O and high 87Sr/86Sr values. Evidence for the early groundwaters is found in meteoric calcite cements that preceded dolomitization and in fully recrystallized dolomites with isotopic characteristics identical to the groundwaters following matrix dolomitization. This study demonstrates that early groundwaters can play a decisive role in the formation and recrystallization of massive dolomites and that the isotopic and textural signatures of pre‐existing groundwaters can be preserved during seepage‐reflux dolomitization in low‐angle carbonate ramps.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dolomitization by hypersaline reflux into dense groundwaters as revealed by vertical trends in strontium and oxygen isotopes: Upper Muschelkalk, Switzerland

2018

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“…9). Therefore, the Fribourg zone is not related, at least in shallow layers, to the Rhenish Lineament as suggested in previous studies (Allenbach and Wetzel 2006;Kastrup et al 2007;Chevalier et al 2010). Considering the general high uncertainties linked to interpretations of basement structures in the existing seismic reflection datasets across the western Swiss Molasse basin (Interoil 2010;Meier 2010;Sommaruga et al 2012), we do not conclude anything about a potential major crustal feature that would link the Rhenish lineament (Allenbach and Wetzel 2006) to potential basement structures below the FL.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 44%

“…Scaling relationships are excerpted from Bohnhoff et al (2010) and Fagereng and Toy (2011). c Regional tectonic map featuring the major fault systems in the Alpine foreland across the Jura belt and the western Swiss Molasse basin: V Vuache, SC St-Claude, A Arve, Mz Morez, M Mouthe, LS la Sarraz, P Pontarlier, LL la Lance, LF la Ferrière, F Fribourg (Fendringen and St. Sylvester); and RL, Rhenish Lineament [modified from Chevalier et al (2010)]. RS indicates the Rhône-Simplon Accident.…”

Section: Integrated Model Of the Fribourg Lineamentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-scale imaging of a slow active fault zone: contribution for improved seismic hazard assessment in the Swiss Alpine foreland

Vouillamoz

Mosar

Deichmann³

2017

Swiss J Geosci

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Seismic hazard assessment of slow active fault zones is challenging as usually only a few decades of sparse instrumental seismic monitoring is available to characterize seismic activity. Tectonic features linked to the observed seismicity can be mapped by seismic imaging techniques and/or geomorphological and structural evidences. In this study, we investigate a seismic lineament located in the Swiss Alpine foreland, which was discussed in previous work as being related to crustal structures carrying in size the potential of a magnitude M 6 earthquake. New, low-magnitude (-2.0 B M L B 2.5) earthquake data are used to image the spatial and temporal distribution of seismogenic features in the target area. Quantitative and qualitative analyses are applied to the waveform dataset to better constrain earthquakes distribution and source processes. Potential tectonic features responsible for the observed seismicity are modelled based on new reinterpretations of oil industry seismic profiles and recent field data in the study area. The earthquake and tectonic datasets are then integrated in a 3D model. Spatially, the seismicity correlates over 10-15 km with a N-S oriented sub-vertical fault zone imaged in seismic profiles in the Mesozoic cover units above a major decollement on top of the mechanically more rigid basement and seen in outcrops of Tertiary series east of the city of Fribourg. Observed earthquakes cluster at shallow depth (\4 km) in the sedimentary cover. Given the spatial extend of the observed seismicity, we infer the potential of a moderate size earthquake to be generated on the lineament. However, since the existence of along strike structures in the basement cannot be excluded, a maximum M 6 earthquake cannot be ruled out. Thus, the Fribourg Lineament constitutes a non-negligible source of seismic hazard in the Swiss Alpine foreland.

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“…However, petroleum system risk factors such as poor overall reservoir quality may be responsible for the lack of preservation of hydrocarbons at depth (e.g. Leu, 2012;Chevalier et al, 2010;Brink et al, 1992).…”

Section: Implications For Drilling Risk and Petroleum Habitatmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shallow Hydrocarbon Indications Along the Alpine Thrust Belt and Adjacent Foreland Basin: Distribution and Implications for Petroleum Exploration

Misch

Leu²,

Sachsenhofer

et al. 2017

Journal of Petroleum Geology

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Shallow oil and gas shows are common in the Alpine thrust front (including the Flysch Zone) and the North Alpine Foreland Basin in Switzerland, southern Germany and Austria, but have not hitherto been evaluated systematically. In the vertically‐drained Vienna Basin and the easternmost part of the Flysch Zone, shallow oil and gas shows and seeps often coincide with deeper‐lying hydrocarbon accumulations, and gas shows occur along major faults – for example within the urbanised area of the city of Vienna. The number of gas shows decreases in the Vienna Basin away from (to the south of) the subcrop of the main thermogenic source rock (the Upper Jurassic Mikulov Formation); however shallow accumulations of microbial gas occur in that area. To the west, along the northern margin of the laterally‐drained North Alpine Foreland Basin, oil shows have been recorded in both Austria and Switzerland; microbial gas shows are common in addition to thermogenic hydrocarbons. Typically the shows form regional clusters along river valleys and occur above shallow gas accumulations. A Lower Oligocene organic‐rich interval represents the main source of oil / condensate and thermogenic gas in the Upper Austrian part of the North Alpine Foreland Basin, whereas the composition of oil shows within the Calcareous Alps to the south indicates the presence of mature Mesozoic source rocks within the Alpine nappes. This implies the presence of an additional, as‐yet untested petroleum system. Thermogenic gas, occurring in Permo‐Triassic evaporitic rocks in the Calcareous Alps, as well as microbial gas in younger sediments, has frequently been encountered during salt mining and tunnelling activities. A surprising discrepancy has been found in different parts of the study area between the number of hydrocarbon shows and the number of economic fields. Whereas the number of fields and shows are approximately in proportion in the Vienna Basin and the Austrian sector of the North Alpine Foreland Basin, shows appear to be “under‐represented” in Germany. By contrast in Switzerland, despite a high number of shows especially in the North Alpine Foreland Basin and the Jura fold‐and‐thrust belt, no economic production has been established to date. Future exploration will show whether this is due to poor reservoir/trap quality, or if undiscovered resources are in fact present. The presence of oil shows generated from Mesozoic and Oligocene source rocks in the SW German and Swiss parts of the North Alpine Foreland Basin suggests the occurrence of multiple petroleum systems; these systems should be delineated in future studies. Few surface seeps have been recorded in less populated parts of the study area such as the high Alps, possibly due to sampling bias. However, this bias does not explain the low frequency of recorded hydrocarbon shows in the German part of the North Alpine Foreland Basin. This may be because the geological setting there is in general less favourable for the migration of thermogenic gas into shallow reservoirs and its preservation in shal...

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Potential for deep geological sequestration of CO2 in Switzerland: a first appraisal

Cited by 52 publications

References 34 publications

Dolomitization by hypersaline reflux into dense groundwaters as revealed by vertical trends in strontium and oxygen isotopes: Upper Muschelkalk, Switzerland

Dolomitization by hypersaline reflux into dense groundwaters as revealed by vertical trends in strontium and oxygen isotopes: Upper Muschelkalk, Switzerland

Multi-scale imaging of a slow active fault zone: contribution for improved seismic hazard assessment in the Swiss Alpine foreland

Shallow Hydrocarbon Indications Along the Alpine Thrust Belt and Adjacent Foreland Basin: Distribution and Implications for Petroleum Exploration

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