CCS Risk Assessment: Groundwater Contamination Caused by CO2.

The potential contamination of underground drinking water (UDW) caused by CO₂ leakage is a critical decision input for risk assessment and management decision making. This paper presents an overview of the potential alterations to UDW quality caused by CO₂ and the relevant quality guidelines on drinking water. Furthermore, a framework and numerical simulator have been developed to (i) predict and assess the potential consequences of CO₂ leakage on the quality of UDW; and (ii) assess the efficiency of groundwater remediation methods and scenarios for various UDW leakage conditions and alterations. The simulator was applied to a Canadian CO₂ disposal site to assess the potential consequences of CO₂ leakage on groundwater quality. The information, framework, and numerical tool presented here are useful for successful risk assessments and the management of CO₂ capture and sequestration in Canadian geological formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]