Pre-feasibility study for CO2 sequestration in Harquahala basin, southwestern Arizona

Thumbnail
Name:
AZGS_FocusedProjectPoster_CUSP ...
Size:
2.139Mb
Format:
PDF
Description:
AZGS CUSP poster presentation ...
Download
Author
Wilson, Tawnya
Thompson, Lisa
Gootee, Brian F.
Affiliation
Arizona Geological Survey
Issue Date
2023-06-21
Keywords
Geologic CO2 storage
sedimentary basins
Reservoir storage
evaporite deposit
CO2 mineralization
saline groundwater

Metadata
Show full item record
Publisher
Arizona Geological Survey (Tucson, AZ)
Description
Harquahala basin is one of 57 sedimentary basins in southwestern Arizona with a large volume of pore space below ~800 m depth, with potential bedded evaporites (seal), mafic lava flows (mineralization), and saline groundwater below a USDW aquifer. The basin is located close to multiple CO2 point sources exceeding 6 Mmt/yr CO2 emissions, existing pipeline infrastructure, and Interstate-10, a major transportation corridor between Arizona and southern California. We present the phase-I prefeasibility study to evaluate the subsurface geology for long-term CO2 sequestration potential in Harquahala basin, Arizona, as part of the Carbon Utilization and Storage Partnership (CUSP). Harquahala basin likely contains three CO2 storage reservoirs: stacked saline sediments, mafic lava flows for CO2 mineralization, and fractured bedrock beneath basin fill. An estimated ~2000 ft thick bedded evaporite deposit over an area of ~70 mi2, represents one or multiple potential seals, as well as the possibility of H2 storage. Saline groundwater >10,000 mg/L TDS is estimated below 2,500 ft depth, based on proxy data. The geothermal gradient is elevated, estimated to be 100 degrees C at maximum basin depth. The seismicity risk is low based on the absence of Quaternary faults and historical seismicity. Five vintage seismic lines were reprocessed and analyzed using all available data. Upper and lower basin fill were identified, as well as a ‘lower reflective package’ overlying crystalline bedrock. An ‘acoustic transparent zone’ in the lower basin fill is interpreted to represent bedded salt. Depth-to-bedrock contour maps, structure maps, and isopach maps were generated. We hypothesize Harquahala basin has geologic conditions suitable to store CO2 permanently and safely in the subsurface, but additional geophysical and well data are needed. We estimate about 2,000 Mmt of supercritical CO2 storage capacity (P50). In order to advance characterization and validate storage potential in Harquahala basin, we will submit a CarbonSAFE II proposal in Q1-FY24 with support from federal, regional, state and industry partners.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10150/669706
Additional Links
https://library.azgs.arizona.edu/
Language
en
Rights
Arizona Geological Survey. All rights reserved.
Collection Information
Documents in the AZGS Documents Repository collection are made available by the Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) and the University Libraries at the University of Arizona. For more information about items in this collection, please contact azgs-info@email.arizona.edu.
North Bounding Coordinate
33.8
South Bounding Coordinate
33.275
West Bounding Coordinate
-113.7
East Bounding Coordinate
-112.844
Collections