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Phase I pre-feasibility study to evaluate carbon dioxide and hydrogen geologic storage potential in Harquahala basin

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Author
Wilson, Tawnya C.
Thompson, Lisa A.
Gootee, Brian F.
Affiliation
Arizona Geological Survey
Issue Date
2024-04-10
Keywords
Harquahala
basin analysis
subsurface
CO2
H2
Carbon Dioxide Sequestration
CCS
CCUS
mineralization
saline

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Citation
Wilson, T.C., Thompson, L.A., Gootee, B.F., 2024. Phase I pre-feasibility study to evaluate carbon dioxide and hydrogen geologic storage potential in Harquahala basin: University of Arizona, Arizona Geological Survey, Open-File Report 24– 01, 22 p, 6 appendices, 3 plates.
Publisher
Arizona Geological Survey (Tucson, AZ)
Description
The Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) conducted a Phase I pre-feasibility study of the Harquahala basin, western Maricopa County, Arizona, for subsurface geologic storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2). The purpose of this project was to evaluate subsurface geology and structure and provide site characterization for future long-term CO2 sequestration and/or short-term H2 storage. The Phase-I evaluation compiled and integrated publicly available geologic maps, wellbore lithology logs, wellbore temperature data, well water chemistry information, and published gravity surveys with proprietary datasets including legacy 2D seismic lines and detailed gravity and resistivity surveys. These data were used to produce depth-to-bedrock contour maps, structure maps of the lower basin fill surface, and isopach maps of the total basin fill, upper basin fill, lower basin fill, and potential evaporite deposits in the basin. Our analyses yielded new information about the basin size, geometry, and structure, which improved calculations of the area and volume of the potential reservoir study area. Harquahala basin may have the geologic conditions necessary to store natural gas permanently and safely in the subsurface, but additional geophysical and well data are needed to characterize the physical properties of storage reservoir rocks. Harquahala has thick accumulations of basin fill sediments with sufficient volumes for storage of supercritical CO2 (a fluid state of CO2) - an estimated 1,997 Mmt of CO2 (P50). Basin fill likely contains three different storage reservoir types: CO2 in stacked saline clastic sedimentary deposits, bedded evaporite deposits for compressed H2 gas storage, and basalt lava flows for CO2 mineralized sequestration. Hot dry crystalline rock underlying basin fill is favorable for geothermal energy and has an unknown volume of saline groundwater. The seismicity risk is low based on the absence of Quaternary faults and historic seismicity. The basin is located close to five major (>100,000 tons/yr) CO2 point sources, existing pipeline infrastructure and Interstate-10, a transportation corridor between Arizona and southern California. At the completion of our data analyses, three critical unknowns remain: the existence/absence of sealing strata such as bedded evaporites and fine-grained deposits, the physical properties of stacked saline reservoir rock, and the stratigraphic architecture of basin fill sediments. Harquahala basin lacks deep well borehole data to adequately characterize rock lithology, porosity, and permeability. New 2D seismic interpretations reported within suggest bedded evaporite deposits and basalt lava flows are likely components of the lower basin fill unit, however these interpretations cannot be calibrated with physical evidence. To reduce the uncertainties about storage reservoir integrity, we recommend the acquisition of new data to include 2D active-source seismic, high-resolution gravity infilling, high resolution aeromagnetics survey, and a stratigraphic characterization well with wireline geophysical logs and a core, cuttings, and fluid sampling program. These datasets, combined with data reported within, will refine our understanding of the basin fill rock properties, identify the presence/absence of sealing strata, and clarify stratigraphic architecture and basin structure.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10150/672248
Additional Links
https://library.azgs.arizona.edu/
Language
en
Series/Report no.
Arizona Geological Survey Open File Report
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
33.75
South Bounding Coordinate
33.25
West Bounding Coordinate
-113.6
East Bounding Coordinate
-113.0
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