Spatial characterization of the location of potentially leaky wells penetrating a deep saline aquifer in a mature sedimentary basin

• Published in: Environmental geology (Berlin) 2004-10, Vol.46 (6-7), p.707-720
• Main Authors: GASDA, Sarah E, BACHU, Stefan, CELIA, Michael A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquifers; Basins; Carbon dioxide; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Geology; Hydrogeology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Leakage; Marine and continental quaternary; Pathways; Pollution, environment geology; Position (location); Spreads; Surficial geology; Wells
• ISSN: 0943-0105; 1432-0495
• DOI: 10.1007/s00254-004-1073-5

This work was motivated by considerations of potential leakage pathways for CO sub(2) injected into deep geological formations for the purpose of carbon sequestration. Because existing wells represent a potentially important leakage pathway, a spatial analysis of wells that penetrate a deep aquifer in the Alberta Basin was performed and various statistical measures to quantify the spatial distribution of these wells were presented. The data indicate spatial clustering of wells, due to oil and gas production activities. The data also indicate that the number of wells that could be impacted by CO sub(2) injection, as defined by the spread of an injected CO sub(2) plume, varies from several hundred in high well-density areas to about 20 in low-density areas. These results may be applied to other mature continental sedimentary basins in North America and elsewhere, where detailed information on well location and status may not be available.