Numerical simulation of carbon dioxide migration in a sandstone aquifer considering the fluid–solid coupling

Very limited investigations have been done on the numerical simulation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) migration in sandstone aquifers taking consideration of the interactions between fluid flow and rock stress. Based on the poroelasticity theory and multiphase flow theory, this study establishes a mathematical model to describe CO₂ migration, coupling the flow and stress fields. Both finite difference method (FDM) and finite element method (FEM) were used to discretize the mathematical model and generate a numerical model. A case study was carried out using the numerical model on the Jiangling sandstone aquifer in the Jianghan basin, China. The rock mechanics parameters of reservoir and overlying strata of Jiangling depression were obtained by triaxial tests. A two-dimensional model was then built to simulate carbon dioxide migration in the sandstone aquifer. The numerical simulation analyzes the carbon dioxide migration distribution rule with and without considering capillary pressure. Time-dependent migration of CO₂ in the sandstone aquifer was analyzed, and the result from the coupled model was compared with that from a traditional non-coupled model. The calculation result indicates a good consistency between the coupled model and the non-coupled model. At the injection point, the CO₂ saturation given by the coupled model is 15.39 % higher than that given by the non-coupled model; while the pore pressure given by the coupled model is 4.8 % lower than that given by the non-coupled model. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the coupling of flow and stress fields while simulating CO₂ migration for CO₂ disposal in sandstone aquifers. The result from the coupled model was also sensitized to several parameters including reservoir permeability, porosity, and CO₂ injection rate. Sensitivity analyses show that CO₂ saturation is increased non-linearly with CO₂ injection rate and decreased non-linearly with reservoir porosity. Pore pressure is decreased non-linearly with reservoir porosity and permeability, and increased non-linearly with CO₂ injection rate. When the capillary pressure was considered, the computed gas saturation of carbon dioxide was increased by 10.75 % and the pore pressure was reduced by 0.615 %.     

An Approach for Modeling Rock Discontinuous Mechanical Behavior Under Multiphase Fluid Flow Conditions

In this paper, the two computer codes TOUGH2 and RDCA (for “rock discontinuous cellular automaton”) are integrated for coupled hydromechanical analysis of multiphase fluid flow and discontinuous mechanical behavior in heterogeneous rock. TOUGH2 is a well-established code for geohydrological analysis involving multiphase, multicomponent fluid flow and heat transport; RDCA is a numerical model developed for simulating the nonlinear and discontinuous geomechanical behavior of rock. The RDCA incorporates the discontinuity of a fracture independently of the mesh, such that the fracture can be arbitrarily located within an element, while the fluid pressure calculated by TOUGH2 can be conveniently applied to fracture surfaces. We verify and demonstrate the coupled TOUGH–RDCA simulator by modeling a number of simulation examples related to coupled multiphase flow and geomechanical processes associated with the deep geological storage of carbon dioxide—including modeling of ground surface uplift, stress-dependent permeability, and the coupled multiphase flow and geomechanical behavior of fractures intersecting the caprock.     

苏北盆地盐城组咸水层CO2 地质封存泄漏风险的全局敏感性分析

      基于对苏北盆地盐城组下段沉积旋回地层概化,建立了一个含有断层的二维剖面模型,采用TOUGH2/ECO2N 程序对 注入到深部咸水层中CO2 的运移分布特征及沿断层的泄漏过程进行了数值模拟。结果表明,尽管盐城组下段地层具有3层旋 回结构且砂岩层属高孔高渗储层,但由于泥层厚度较小且渗透率相对较高,多层封盖效果不佳。在存在导通断层时,CO2 泄露风险较大。应用Morris 法以断层中气相CO2 总量作为输出变量,对模型参数进行了全局敏感性分析。研究显示,当仅 改变断层参数时,与毛细压力相关的参数对气相CO2 沿断层泄漏影响程度最高;当考虑系统参数整体变化时则以砂岩含水 层和泥岩的渗透率敏感性最高,其次为与毛细压力相关的参数（进气压力、残余液体饱和度及孔隙分布指数）。两种情形下 孔隙度与盐度的敏感性均很小。     

Numerical simulation and optimization of CO2 sequestration in saline aquifers for vertical and horizontal well injection

With heightened concerns on CO₂ emissions from pulverized-coal (PC) power plants, there has been major emphasis in recent years on the development of safe and economical geological carbon sequestration (GCS) technology. Saline aquifers are considered very attractive for GCS because of their large storage capacity in U.S. and other parts of the world for long-term sequestration. However, uncertainties about storage efficiency as well as leakage risks remain major areas of concern that need to be addressed before the saline aquifers can be fully exploited for carbon sequestration. A genetic algorithm-based optimizer has been developed and coupled with the well-known multiphase numerical solver TOUGH2 to optimally examine various injection strategies for increasing the CO₂ storage efficiency as well as for reducing its plume migration. The optimal injection strategies for CO₂ injection employing a vertical injection well and a horizontal injection well are considered. To ensure the accuracy of the results, the combined hybrid numerical solver/optimizer code was validated by conducting simulations of three widely used benchmark problems employed by carbon sequestration researchers worldwide. The validated code is then employed to optimize the proposed water-alternating-gas injection scheme for CO₂ sequestration using both the vertical and the horizontal injection wells. The results suggest the potential benefits of CO₂ migration control and dissolution. The optimization capability of the hybrid code holds a great promise in studying a host of other problems in GCS, namely how to optimally enhance capillary trapping, accelerate the dissolution of CO₂ in water or brine, and immobilize the CO₂ plume.     

Numerical simulation to quantify the leakage risk in a multi-layer aquifer system of pure brine recovery and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-enhanced brine recovery: a case study of potassium-rich brine recovery in Jianghan Basin of China

Deep brine recovery enhanced by supercritical CO₂ injection is proposed to be a win–win method for the enhancement of brine production and CO₂ storage capacity and security. However, the cross-flow through interlayers under different permeability conditions is not well investigated for a multi-layer aquifer system. In this work, a multi-layer aquifer system with different permeability conditions was built up to quantify the brine production yield and the leakage risk under both schemes of pure brine recovery and enhanced by supercritical CO₂. Numerical simulation results show that the permeability conditions of the interlayers have a significant effect on the brine production and the leakage risk as well as the regional pressure. Brine recovery enhanced by supercritical CO₂ injection can improve the brine production yield by a factor of 2–3.5 compared to the pure brine recovery. For the pure brine recovery, strong cross-flow through interlayers occurs due to the drastic and extensive pressure drop, even for the relative low permeability (k = 10^?20 m²) mudstone interlayers. Brine recovery enhanced by supercritical CO₂ can successfully manage the regional pressure and decrease the leakage risk, even for the relative high permeability (k = 10^?17 m²) mudstone interlayers. In addition, since the leakage of brine mainly occurs in the early stage of brine production, it is possible to minimize the leakage risk by gradually decreasing the brine production pressure at the early stage. Since the leakage of CO₂ occurs in the whole production period and is significantly influenced by the buoyancy force, it may be more effective by adopting horizontal wells and optimizing well placement to reduce the CO₂ leakage risk.     

Feasibility of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> migration detection using pressure and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> saturation monitoring above an imperfect primary seal of a geologic CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> storage formation: a numerical investigation

A numerical model was developed to investigate the potential to detect fluid migration in a (homogeneous, isotropic, with constant pressure lateral boundaries) porous and permeable interval overlying an imperfect primary seal of a geologic CO₂ storage formation. The seal imperfection was modeled as a single higher-permeability zone in an otherwise low-permeability seal, with the center of that zone offset from the CO₂ injection well by 1400 m. Pressure response resulting from fluid migration through the high-permeability zone was detectable up to 1650 m from the centroid of that zone at the base of the monitored interval after 30 years of CO₂ injection (detection limit = 0.1 MPa pressure increase); no pressure response was detectable at the top of the monitored interval at the same point in time. CO₂ saturation response could be up to 774 m from the center of the high-permeability zone at the bottom of the monitored interval, and 1103 m at the top (saturation detection limit = 0.01). More than 6% of the injected CO₂, by mass, migrated out of primary containment after 130 years of site performance (including 30 years of active injection) in the case where the zone of seal imperfection had a moderately high permeability (10^??17 m² or 0.01 mD). Free-phase CO₂ saturation monitoring at the top of the overlying interval provides favorable spatial coverage for detecting fluid migration across the primary seal. Improved sensitivity of detection for pressure perturbation will benefit time of detection above an imperfect seal.     

A coupled compressible flow and geomechanics model for dynamic fracture aperture during carbon sequestration in coal

This paper presents the development of a discrete fracture model of fully coupled compressible fluid flow, adsorption and geomechanics to investigate the dynamic behaviour of fractures in coal. The model is applied in the study of geological carbon dioxide sequestration and differs from the dual porosity model developed in our previous work, with fractures now represented explicitly using lower-dimensional interface elements. The model consists of the fracture-matrix fluid transport model, the matrix deformation model and the stress-strain model for fracture deformation. A sequential implicit numerical method based on Galerkin finite element is employed to numerically solve the coupled governing equations, and verification is completed using published solutions as benchmarks. To explore the dynamic behaviour of fractures for understanding the process of carbon sequestration in coal, the model is used to investigate the effects of gas injection pressure and composition, adsorption and matrix permeability on the dynamic behaviour of fractures. The numerical results indicate that injecting nonadsorbing gas causes a monotonic increase in fracture aperture; however, the evolution of fracture aperture due to gas adsorption is complex due to the swelling-induced transition from local swelling to macro swelling. The change of fracture aperture is mainly controlled by the normal stress acting on the fracture surface. The fracture aperture initially increases for smaller matrix permeability and then declines after reaching a maximum value. When the local swelling becomes global, fracture aperture starts to rebound. However, when the matrix permeability is larger, the fracture aperture decreases before recovering to a higher value and remaining constant. Gas mixtures containing more carbon dioxide lead to larger closure of fracture aperture compared with those containing more nitrogen.     

深部咸含水层CO2注入下压力抬升与流体迁移的大尺度模拟研究:以松辽盆地为例

地下深部封存CO2已经被公认是人类削减温室气体排放的一条有效而又科学的途径。深部咸含水层CO2地质封存因封存潜力巨大,技术可行,且已有实际的工程运行,因而备受关注。松辽盆地是中国潜在的CO2储存场地之一,选择松辽盆地为大尺度模拟研究对象,选取姚家组砂岩层为储层,选取嫩江组泥岩为盖层,运用TOUGH-MP并行计算代码建立了覆盖整个松辽盆地的三维地质模型,在中央凹陷区开展大尺度CO2注入模拟研究,包括CO2运移、储存、地层压力提升以及储存安全性等问题。模拟结果表明:持续注入100a后形成的CO2羽远小于产生的压力积聚区影响范围。注入产生的压力抬升将在注入停止后迅速消散,不会对区域地层压力和浅层地下水系统产生显著影响。在千年之内注入的CO2将随着时间持续,逐渐溶解于水中,而不会因盖层微弱的渗透性而逃逸。     

鄂尔多斯盆地深部咸水层二氧化碳地质储存热-水动力-力学(THM)耦合过程数值模拟

注入CO₂到深部咸水层(CO₂地质储存)被认为是一种直接有效地减少CO₂向大气排放的途径。CO₂地质储存涉及到热、水动力和力学耦合过程,该耦合过程是预测CO₂在储层中的迁移转化、评价储层储存能力和分析潜在风险的关键。基于Terzaghi固结理论,在热-水动力(TH)耦合软件TOUGH2框架中加入了力学模块,形成了新的热-水动力-力学(THM)模拟器。结合鄂尔多斯盆地CO₂捕获和储存(CCS)示范工程场地的地质、水文地质条件,采用新的THM模拟器数值分析了CO₂注入后地层中的温度、压力、CO₂饱和度、位移和有效应力的时空变化特征。结果显示:在井口保持8 MPa和35℃情况下,能够实现10万 t/a的CO₂注入量;压力上升的范围远远大于CO₂运移和温度降低的范围,注入20 a后,其最大距离分别达到接近边界10 km、620 m和100 m;位移和应力变化主要与压力变化相关,注入引起最大抬升为0.14 m,在注入井附近位置储层中有效应力变化水平方向要大于垂直方向,而在远井位置相反;注入引起井附近有效应力明显减小,从而导致了孔隙度和渗透率的增大,增强了CO₂注入能力。     

地下热-水动力-力学耦合过程数值模拟:以CO_2地质储存为例

在地下流动系统问题的研究中,热-水动力-力学(THM)耦合过程是研究的热点问题。在地下多相非等温数值模拟软件TOUGH2的框架内,基于Biot固结理论和摩尔-库仑破坏判定准则,建立了THM耦合模型;采用积分有限差和有限元联合的空间离散方法,开发了THM模拟器TOUGH2Biot。该模拟器中热和水动力过程是全耦合,力学过程是部分耦合。通过与解析解的对比,验证了其正确性。基于鄂尔多斯盆地CCS示范工程,采用TOUGH2Biot研究了CO2注入地层后的THM响应。结果显示CO2的注入引起流体压力急剧增加,地层有效应力减小,地表隆起,隆起大小在几十个厘米,同时孔渗增加,利于CO2注入引起的压力上升向外消散。CO2注入最有可能导致剪切破坏的位置位于最大速率注入点上部盖层,其次为靠近地表的位置。     

基于数值模拟探讨提高咸水层CO2 封存注入率的途径

咸水层CO2地质封存是减少大气中CO2排放量的有效途径。CO2注入率是衡量咸水层中CO2注入能力的有效因素,因此,研究注入速率的变化规律及提高的措施是很有工程价值的。在很多区域,地层的低渗透性限制了CO2的注入率。针对鄂尔多斯盆地的水文地质条件,通过数值模拟,探讨在低渗透性咸水层中提高CO2注入率的途径,包括改变储层中的盐度、采用水平井注入、增加注入井段的长度以及采取水力压裂等工程措施。其中改变储层中的盐度可通过在注入CO2前向储层中注入一定量的水来实现。模拟结果表明,这些方式可以有效地提高CO2注入率,其中水平井改造方式和水力压裂工程措施效果显著,盐度改造措施在地层初始含盐度较高时,会有更好的效果。研究结果可为鄂尔多斯盆地和类似地区的咸水层CO2地质封存项目提供参考。     

CO_2注入下岩层变形和流体运移分析(I):两相流-岩层耦合模型

目前国内关于CO2咸水层封存尚处于先导性和试验性研究阶段,对超临界CO2注入过程中岩层力学响应和流体运移的理论与技术方面的认识还不完善。为研究CO2注入下岩层变形和流体运移,基于两相流动数学模型,给出了超临界CO2和咸水质量守恒方程;采用毛细压力和有效饱和度的关系式,将质量守恒方程变换成以毛细压力为变量的表达式,以便于考虑流体压力对岩层的影响。提出了无流体压力影响下的岩层力学本构模型,该模型能够同时考虑岩层的塑性变形和损伤。分析了两相流体-岩层相互作用机制:一方面,采用有效应力原理,考虑流体压力对岩层的力学影响;另一方面,通过岩层固有渗透率变化考虑岩层变形对流体运移的影响。     

CO2地质封存中储层流体压力演化规律的解析模型

为使解析模型可以更加科学准确地描述储层中多相流体的迁移机制与压力演化规律,提高解析计算与分析的精度。首先将储层中的流场划分为3个区域,然后根据渗流体积守恒方程反演储层中两相流体混合渗流区的各相流体饱和度,进而将总流度直接引入到达西公式中得到了一个适用于两相流的广义达西公式,据此推导出了一个更为精确的表征储层流体压力演化规律的解析模型。最后,通过案例分析,将该解析模型的计算结果与既有文献的显式积分解及TOUGH2/ECO2N的数值解进行对比,验证了该模型的可靠性及相比于既有文献的显式积分解在计算精度方面的优越性。此外,计算结果也表明,该解析模型虽然是在稳态流的假定条件下得到的,但对于实际储层流体压力演化的全过程均具有很强的表征能力,这主要归因于该模型可科学准确地确定饱和度,因此,可以在工程中推广应用。     

Origin of the patchy emission pattern at the ZERT CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> release test

A numerical experiment was carried out to test whether the patchy CO₂ emission patterns observed at the Zero Emissions Research and Technology release facility are caused by the presence of packers that divide the horizontal injection well into six CO₂-injection zones. A three-dimensional model of the horizontal well and cobble–soil system was developed and simulations using TOUGH2/EOS7CA were carried out. Simulation results show patchy emissions for the seven-packer (six-injection-zone) configuration of the field test. Numerical experiments were then conducted for the cases of 24 packers (23 injection zones) and an effectively infinite number of packers. The time to surface breakthrough and the number of patches increased as the number of packers increased suggesting that packers and associated along-pipe flow are the origin of the patchy emissions. In addition, it was observed that early breakthrough occurs at locations where the horizontal well pipe is shallow and installed mostly in soil rather than the deeper cobble. In the cases where the pipe is installed at shallow depths and directly in the soil, higher pipe gas saturations occur than where the pipe is installed slightly deeper in the cobble. It is believed this is an effect mostly relevant to the model rather than the field system and arises through the influence of capillarity, permeability, and pipe elevation of the soil compared to the cobble adjacent to the pipe.     

Site characterization for CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> geologic storage and vice versa: the Frio brine pilot,Texas, USA as a case study

Careful site characterization is critical for successful geologic storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂) because of the many physical and chemical processes impacting CO₂ movement and containment under field conditions. Traditional site characterization techniques such as geological mapping, geophysical imaging, well logging, core analyses, and hydraulic well testing provide the basis for judging whether or not a site is suitable for CO₂ storage. However, only through the injection and monitoring of CO₂ itself can the coupling between buoyancy flow, geologic heterogeneity, and history-dependent multi-phase flow effects be observed and quantified. CO₂ injection and monitoring can therefore provide a valuable addition to the site-characterization process. Additionally, careful monitoring and verification of CO₂ plume development during the early stages of commercial operation should be performed to assess storage potential and demonstrate permanence. The Frio brine pilot, a research project located in Dayton, Texas (USA) is used as a case study to illustrate the concept of an iterative sequence in which traditional site characterization is used to prepare for CO₂ injection and then CO₂ injection itself is used to further site-characterization efforts, constrain geologic storage potential, and validate understanding of geochemical and hydrological processes. At the Frio brine pilot, in addition to traditional site-characterization techniques, CO₂ movement in the subsurface is monitored by sampling fluid at an observation well, running CO₂-saturation-sensitive well logs periodically in both injection and observation wells, imaging with crosswell seismic in the plane between the injection and observation wells, and obtaining vertical seismic profiles to monitor the CO₂ plume as it migrates beyond the immediate vicinity of the wells. Numerical modeling plays a central role in integrating geological, geophysical, and hydrological field observations.     

Pressure transient technique to constrain CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> plume boundaries

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) has been injected in the subsurface permeable formations as a means to cut atmospheric CO₂ emissions and/or enhance oil recovery (EOR). It is important to constrain the boundaries of the CO₂ plume in the target formation and/or other formations hosting the CO₂ migrated from the target formation. Monitoring methods and technologies to assess the CO₂ plume boundaries over time within a reservoir of interest are required. Previously introduced methods and technologies on pressure monitoring to detect the extent of the CO₂ plume require at least two wells, i.e. pulser and observation wells. We introduce pressure transient technique requiring single well only. Single well pressure transient testing (drawdown/buildup/injection/falloff) is widely used to determine reservoir properties and wellbore conditions. Pressure diagnostic plots are used to identify different flow regimes and determine the reservoir/well characteristics. We propose a method to determine the plume extent for a constant rate pressure transient test at a single well outside the CO₂ plume. Due to the significant contrast between mobility and storativity of the CO₂ and native fluids (oil or brine), the CO₂ boundary causes deviation in the pressure diagnostic response from that corresponding to previously identified heterogeneities. Using the superposition principle, we develop a relationship between the deviation time and the plume boundary. We demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method using numerically generated synthetic data corresponding to homogeneous, heterogeneous, and anisotropic cases to evaluate its potential and limitations. We discuss ways to identify and overcome the potential limitations for application of the method in the field.     

Shrinkage and swelling of coal induced by desorption and sorption of fluids: Theoretical model and interpretation of a field project

Geologic sequestration in deep unmineable coal seams and enhanced coalbed methane production is a promising choice, economically and environmentally, to reduce anthropogenic gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Unmineable coal seams are typically known to adsorb large amounts of carbon dioxide in comparison to the sizeable amounts of sorbed methane, which raises the potential for large scale sequestration projects. During the process of sequestration, carbon dioxide is injected into the coalbed and desorbed methane is produced. The coal matrix is believed to shrink when a gas is desorbed and swell when a gas is sorbed, sometimes causing profound changes in the cleat porosity and permeability of the coal seam. These changes may have significant impact on the reservoir performance. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the combined influence of swelling and shrinkage, and geomechanical properties including elastic modulus, cleat porosity, and permeability of the reservoir.The present paper deals with the influence of swelling and shrinkage on the reservoir performance, and the geomechanical response of the reservoir system during the process of geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide and enhanced coalbed methane production in an actual field project located in northern New Mexico. A three-dimensional swelling and shrinkage model was developed and implemented into an existing reservoir model to understand the influence of geomechanical parameters, as well as swelling and shrinkage properties, on the reservoir performance. Numerical results obtained from the modified simulator were compared to available measured values from that site and previous studies. Results show that swelling and shrinkage, and the combination of geomechanical and operational parameters, have a significant influence on the performance of the reservoir system.     

Using hyperspectral plant signatures for CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> leak detection during the 2008 ZERT CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> sequestration field experiment in Bozeman,Montana

Hyperspectral plant signatures can be used as a short-term, as well as long-term (100-year timescale) monitoring technique to verify that CO₂ sequestration fields have not been compromised. An influx of CO₂ gas into the soil can stress vegetation, which causes changes in the visible to near-infrared reflectance spectral signature of the vegetation. For 29 days, beginning on July 9, 2008, pure carbon dioxide gas was released through a 100-m long horizontal injection well, at a flow rate of 300 kg day⁻¹. Spectral signatures were recorded almost daily from an unmown patch of plants over the injection with a “FieldSpec Pro” spectrometer by Analytical Spectral Devices, Inc. Measurements were taken both inside and outside of the CO₂ leak zone to normalize observations for other environmental factors affecting the plants. Four to five days after the injection began, stress was observed in the spectral signatures of plants within 1 m of the well. After approximately 10 days, moderate to high amounts of stress were measured out to 2.5 m from the well. This spatial distribution corresponded to areas of high CO₂ flux from the injection. Airborne hyperspectral imagery, acquired by Resonon, Inc. of Bozeman, MT using their hyperspectral camera, also showed the same pattern of plant stress. Spectral signatures of the plants were also compared to the CO₂ concentrations in the soil, which indicated that the lower limit of soil CO₂ needed to stress vegetation is between 4 and 8% by volume.     

水环境同位素技术在二氧化碳地质储存中的应用之探讨

通过分析二氧化碳地质储存的地下空间和时间特征,并结合水环境同位素技术的特点,提出将其应用于碳储存方面可以从以下三方面入手:(1)利用水环境同位素技术判断二氧化碳规模化封存场地的水文地质条件的方法,评价典型二氧化碳规模化封存咸水层的安全持久性及储存二氧化碳的适宜性;（2）确定判断泄露二氧化碳“碳源”的同位素方法,研究泄露的“碳”源;（3）通过水环境同位素技术,研究二氧化碳地质封存与地下水循环、径流之间的关系,评价规模化封存二氧化碳潜在泄露对浅层含水层的影响。     

Uncertainties of geochemical modeling during CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> sequestration applying batch equilibrium calculations

One of the uncertainties in the field of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is caused by the parameterization of geochemical models. The application of geochemical models contributes significantly to calculate the fate of the CO₂ after its injection. The choice of the thermodynamic database used, the selection of the secondary mineral assemblage as well as the option to calculate pressure dependent equilibrium constants influence the CO₂ trapping potential and trapping mechanism. Scenario analyses were conducted applying a geochemical batch equilibrium model for a virtual CO₂ injection into a saline Keuper aquifer. The amount of CO₂ which could be trapped in the formation water and in the form of carbonates was calculated using the model code PHREEQC. Thereby, four thermodynamic datasets were used to calculate the thermodynamic equilibria. Furthermore, the equilibrium constants were re-calculated with the code SUPCRT92, which also applied a pressure correction to the equilibrium constants. Varying the thermodynamic database caused a range of 61% in the amount of trapped CO₂ calculated. Simultaneously, the assemblage of secondary minerals was varied, and the potential secondary minerals dawsonite and K-mica were included in several scenarios. The selection of the secondary mineral assemblage caused a range of 74% in the calculated amount of trapped CO₂. Correcting the equilibrium constants with respect to a pressure of 125 bars had an influence of 11% on the amount of trapped CO₂. This illustrates the need for incorporating sensitivity analyses into reaction pathway modeling.