Modeling Gaseous CO2 Flow Behavior in Layered Basalts: Dimensional Analysis and Aquifer Response.

Particular attention is paid to the risk of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) leakage in geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) operations, as it might lead to the failure of sequestration efforts and to the contamination of underground sources of drinking water. As carbon dioxide would eventually reach shallower formations under its gaseous state, understanding its multiphase flow behavior is essential. To this aim, a hypothetical gaseous leak of carbon dioxide resulting from a well integrity failure of the GCS system in operation at Hellisheiði (CarbFix2) is here modeled. Simulations show that migration of gaseous carbon dioxide is largely affected by formation stratigraphy, intrinsic permeability, and retention properties, whereas the initial groundwater hydraulic gradient (0.0284) has practically no effect. In two different scenarios, about 18.3 and 30.6% of the CO2 that would have been injected by the GCS system for 3 days could be potentially released again into the atmosphere due to a sustained leakage of the same duration. As the gaseous leak occurs, the aquifer experiences high pressure buildups, and the presence of a less conductive layer further magnifies these. Strikingly, the dimensional analysis showed that buoyant and viscous forces can be comparable over time within the predicted gaseous plumes, even far from the leakage source. Local pressure gradients, buoyant, viscous, and capillary forces all play an important role during leakage. Therefore, neglecting one or more of these contributions might lead to a partial prediction of gaseous CO2 flow behavior in the subsurface, giving space to incorrect interpretations and wrong operational choices.

Microbial intrusion and seasonal dynamics in the groundwater microbiome of a porous basaltic rock aquifer used as municipal water reservoir.

Groundwater is a key resource for safe drinking water supply. Yet unconfined aquifers can be vulnerable to microbial contamination during extreme weather events that lead to surface runoff. The current study characterises the groundwater microbiome of a porous basaltic rock aquifer in South-West Iceland used for drinking water extraction and analyses the microbial community dynamics during surface runoff. The groundwater microbial community sampled from 12 wells across the extraction area contained over 745 prokaryotic genera and was phylogenetically similar between wells and most seasons, representing a diverse but homogenous ecosystem. The largest seasonal variation in the microbial community composition was detected during a period of concurrent snow melt and high precipitation leading to surface runoff. This period was characterised by an increased abundance of soil-associated taxa in the groundwater microbiome and specifically of taxa assigned to Aeromonas and Bacillus. A field experiment simulating high surface runoff around a groundwater well confirmed the increased abundance of surface soil microorganisms in the well water, indicating vulnerability of groundwater towards surface microbial intrusion during extreme weather events. As such events are likely to increase due to climate change, novel water management tools such as microbial community analysis could help ensure drinking water safety.