Direct experiments on the ocean disposal of fossil fuel CO2

Field experiments were conducted to test ideas for fossil fuel carbon dioxide ocean disposal as a solid hydrate at depths ranging from 349 to 3627 meters and from 8 degrees to 1.6 degrees C. Hydrate formed instantly from the gas phase at 349 meters but then decomposed rapidly in ambient seawater. At...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1999-05, Vol.284 (5416), p.943-945
Main Authors: BREWER, P. G, FRIEDERICH, G, PELTZER, E. T, ORR, F. M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon dioxide
Climate
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Exact sciences and technology
Experiments
Fossil fuels
Fuels
Greenhouse effect
Marine geology
Oceans
Organic Chemistry
Pollution, environment geology
Scientific Concepts
Water
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Field experiments were conducted to test ideas for fossil fuel carbon dioxide ocean disposal as a solid hydrate at depths ranging from 349 to 3627 meters and from 8 degrees to 1.6 degrees C. Hydrate formed instantly from the gas phase at 349 meters but then decomposed rapidly in ambient seawater. At 3627 meters, the seawater-carbon dioxide interface rose rapidly because of massive hydrate formation, forcing spillover of the liquid carbon dioxide from the container. A strong barrier between the liquid carbon dioxide and interaction with the sediments was observed. A pool of liquid carbon dioxide on the sea floor would expand in volume more than four times, forming hydrate, which will dissolve.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.284.5416.943