HR: 1340h
AN: H33F-0540    [Abstracts]
TI: 2-D Numerical Modeling of a Fault Zone Leaking Carbon Dioxide in East Central Utah
AU: * Heath, J E
EM: jheath@nmt.edu
AF: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Hydrology Program, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801 United States
AU: McPherson, B J
EM: brian@nmt.edu
AF: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Hydrology Program, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801 United States
AB: The Little Grand Wash fault zone near the city of Green River, Utah, leaks carbon dioxide-rich waters to the surface. Previous studies indicate that the inorganic carbon dioxide travels from depths greater than 1 km to charge a shallower groundwater system that contains at least three aquifers. The aquifers leak fluids to the surface along the fault. We developed a 2-D mathematical model of the system, including coupled heat and multiphase fluid flow, to test and evaluate this conceptual model. Our goals of this effort include estimating quantitative partitioning of carbon dioxide amongst its liquid and gaseous phases with depth, inferring fault and matrix permeabilities, and constraining fluid fluxes in the subsurface system. Boundary conditions assigned in the model include observed surface fluxes and chemical data. Contributing artesian effects on the flow system have also been evaluated.
DE: 1829 Groundwater hydrology
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting