Field studies on the formation of sinking CO2 particles for ocean carbon sequestration: Effects of injector geometry on particle density and dissolution rate and model simulation of plume behavior

David E. Riestenberg, Costas Tsouris, Peter G. Brewer, Edward T. Peltzer, Peter Walz, Aaron C. Chow, E. Eric Adams

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have carried out the second phase of field studies to determine the effectiveness of a coflow injector which mixes liquid CO2 and ambient seawater to produce a hydrate slurry as a possible CO2 delivery method for ocean carbon sequestration. The experiments were carried out at ocean depths of 1000-1300 m in Monterey Bay, CA, using a larger injector than that initially employed under remotely operated vehicle control and imaging of the product. Solidlike composite particles comprised of water, solid CO2 hydrate, and liquid CO2 were produced in both studies. In the recent injections, the particles consistently sank at rates of ∼5 cm s -1. The density of the sinking particles suggested that ∼40% of the injected CO2 was converted to hydrate, while image analysis of the particle shrinking rate indicated a CO2 dissolution rate of 0.76-1.29, μmol Cm-2 s-1. Plume modeling of the hydrate composite particles suggests that while discrete particles may sink 10-70 m, injections with CO2 mass fluxes of 1-1000 kg s-1 would result in sinking plumes 120-1000 m below the injection point.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7287-7293
Number of pages7
JournalEnvironmental Science and Technology
Volume39
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 2005

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