Brine migration along vertical pathways due to CO₂ injection – a simulated case study in the North German Basin with stakeholder involvement

Abstract. Brine migration into potential drinking water aquifers due to the injection of CO₂ into deep saline aquifers is one of the potential hazards associated with the Carbon Capture and Storage technology (CCS). Thus, in any site selection process, an important criterion should be the evaluation of brine migration resulting from the injection. We follow an interdisciplinary approach using participatory modeling to incorporate stakeholder opinion at an early stage in order to discuss and evaluate model conception and relevant scenarios for brine migration. The basis for this approach is a realistic (but not real) on-shore site in the North German Basin with characteristic geological features for that region. Our model fully couples flow in shallow and in deep saline aquifers including variable-density transport of salt and a realistic description of the top surface boundary conditions with groundwater recharge and rivers. We investigate different scenarios to identify relevant system components. Further, different model simplifications are compared and discussed with respect to the relevant physical processes and the expected data availability, i.e. to find a model as complex as necessary and as simple as possible. It becomes clear that the initial salt distribution plays a key role as to where noticeable concentration changes may occur. Also the boundary conditions are important for determining the amount of vertically displaced brine. Simplifications in the model setup, such as neglecting variable-density flow or simplifying the complex geometry may prove valid options given sparse data availability.