Salinity Gradient Detection for Aquifer Sealing Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to evaluate the suitability of saline aquifers for carbon sequestration, as not all saline aquifers are well sealed, leading to potential carbon escape, and existing methods lack effective means to assess sealing integrity and stratification for long-term storage.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented system that analyzes salinity gradients in saline aquifers to determine sealing competence, using salinity measurements to identify stratification patterns and predict suitability for carbon sequestration, thereby ensuring the aquifer's integrity and preventing leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If salinity measurements are taken to assess sealing integrity, then reliability of carbon storage is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing integrityVSAvoidsalinity gradient detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The aquifer is divided into multiple depth zones (shallower region and deeper region) with salinity measurements taken at multiple locations within each zone. This segmentation allows detection of vertical salinity gradients that indicate sealing integrity, transforming a single complex measurement into multiple simpler comparative measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The assessment transitions from horizontal salinity sampling to vertical depth-based sampling. By measuring salinity at different depths and comparing shallower versus deeper regions, the system detects vertical stratification patterns that reveal sealing competence, adding a depth dimension to the evaluation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If multiple salinity measurements are conducted at different depths, then sealing competence determination is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing competenceVSAvoidmeasurement system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single measurement tool is designed to perform multiple functions: it can measure salinity at various depths, record depth information, and collect location data. This multi-functional tool eliminates the need for separate specialized equipment for each measurement type, reducing overall system complexity while enabling comprehensive vertical profiling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement tool automatically records its own depth and location information during the measurement process. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external tracking systems or manual depth recording, simplifying the overall measurement system while ensuring accurate depth-salinity correlation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively identifies well-sealed aquifers by detecting salinity gradients, ensuring the aquifer's integrity and suitability for carbon storage, thereby enhancing the reliability and effectiveness of carbon sequestration processes.

Implementation Method 1

identifying, based on the distribution of salinity, a salinity gradient between a shallow region within the saline aquifer and a deep region within the saline aquifer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSalinity gradient detection: Density Gradient

Implementation Method 2

A process called 'dissolution storage' involves the dissolution of CO2 into the brine phase in a geochemical reaction for CO2 storage in saline aquifers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS12196078B1Salinity as a de-risking tool for carbon capture

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes measuring a collection of salinity values representative of a depth within a saline aquifer and a salinity measurement value representative of salinity at the depth, determining, based on the collection of salinity values, a distribution of salinity across a plurality of depths within the saline aquifer, identifying, based on the distribution of salinity, a salinity gradient between a shallow region within the saline aquifer and a deep region within the saline aquifer, where the shallow region has salinity measurement values that are lower than salinity measurement values representative of the deep region, and determining, based on the identified salinity gradient, a sealing competency of the saline aquifer.