CO2 storage capacity assessment in the deep saline aquifers of southern Israel

CO2 storage in geological formations is one of the techniques proposed for reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. This paper describes the first assessment of effective storage capacity within deep saline aquifers in southern Israel. On the basis of the current CO2 emissions, the State of Israel needs to find storage site(s) for about 5 Gt of CO2, which is the predicted accumulated CO2 emissions for the period between 2025 and 2075. The effective storage capacity of the sedimentary basin in southern Israel, ranging in age from latest Precambrian to Early Cretaceous, was examined based on data from 180 boreholes. Three separated saline aquifers were recognized in the basin, each having its own sealing aquiclude. Each aquiclude is usually thicker than 100 m and will probably prevent CO2 migration upward. The water salinity in these aquifers is usually high (>12,000 ppm Cl-). Capacity calculations are based on the DoE equation (G(CO2) = A h rho E phi), using an effective coefficient (E) of 2%. The results of our study indicate that effective storage potential of the economic zone (800 m to 2,500 m below surface) is about 8.6 Gt, with an additional 10.7 Gt within deeper parts of the aquifers (below the 2,500 m optimum depth). (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.