A tool to facilitate modeling and pilot projects for sequestration of carbon dioxide in saline formations

Saline water-bearing formations that extend beneath much of the continental United States are attractive candidates for disposal of CO, produced during power generation or by other industrial processes. We have quantified the characteristics of saline formations that assure that gas can be efficiently injected into the selected subsurface unit and that it will remain sequestered for suitably long time periods. A GIS data base of these geologic attributes of 21 saline formations is available to support data analysis and comparison with CO, source locations. Attributes include depth, permeability, formation thickness, net sand thickness, percent shale, sand-body continuity, top seal thickness, continuity of top seal, hydrocarbon production from interval, fluid residence time, flow direction, C02soluhility in brine (P, T and salinity), rock mineralogy, water chemistry, and porosity. Variations in formation properties should be considered in order to match a surface greenhouse gas emissions reduction operation with a suitable subsurface disposal site.