Natural analogues of CO2 leakages from storage reservoirs in SE Poland Adam WÓJCICKI & Wojciech WOŁKOWICZ
The Polish basin aquifers (z= 1km; Kotański, 1997)
Geology of Poland IGME5000
Generalized geology of Poland (POGC) Main geological units below platform cover (200-300 m) of younger sediments. Various parts of the country consolidated during Pre- Cambrian (NE), Caledonide, Variscan (SW), Laramide (central-nw) and Alpine events (SE).
Geology of Poland below Cainozoic Geological formations under glacial Quarternary and platform Tertiary sediments. Older formations appear in southern, mountain area and in Baltic.
The (western) Carpatians
Natural analogues of Poland EU GeoCapacity In southern part of Poland, especially close to Slovak and Czech borders many natural CO2 seepages of springs and spas appear (these in Carpathians and Sudeten Mts). The biggest one is Złockie moffette in SE, producing 11 kt CO2/yr.
Example of CO2 exhalation in Poland Złockie Mofette, SE Poland (there is a pond the mofette and a few natural seeps along Złockie creek)
Carbonated water occurrences in Poland (SE and SW); Paczyński & Płochniewski, 1996 Lithuania Germany Belarus Ukraine Czech Rep. Slovakia
Sparkling water/co seeps in SW Poland Germany Czech Rep. CO2 mineral water occuring in Sudeten region lacks N2 and CH4 admixtures and CO2 is believed to be of predominantly deep magmatic origin (after isotopic analyzes). 90 occurrences (miner. 2-3 g/l) are known, mostly associated with spas and to lesser extent abandoned coal mines.
Sparkling water in SW Poland Two persons died in 1960s in a spa s cellar because of CO2 exhalation The use since II century B.C. ancient well discovered (Szczawno), in modern times since XIV century. HCO3-Ca-Mg mineralization is the most common also HCO3-Na-Ca, HCO3-Ca and sometimes SO4-HSO3- Na(=Ca)
Sparkling water/co2 seeps in SE Poland Slovakia Ukraine About 320 occurrences of carbonated water and dry exhalations of CO2 is known (often within spa areas) in flysch Carpathians. CO2 origin is believed to be mostly of metamorphis m and diagenesis of sedimentary rocks
Sparkling water/co2 seeps in SE Poland Slovakia Ukraine Four persons died in 1934, 1979 in own cellars because of CO2 exhalation Since 1960s soil gas measurement s to detect dry CO2 exhalations (in trenches sometimes dead animals appear) by spa areas conducted (AGH-UST). N2 admixtures detected, rarely CH4 and H2S.
Złockie - the biggest CO2 exhalation in Poland; area ~0.4 km2, emission 11 kt/yr (~1/3 of amount for assessed CO2 exhalations) Discovered in 1962; CO2 content in soil gas very high. Ciężkowski, 2002 (% of CO2 in soil gas)
Conclusions The most suitable and sizable natural analogues are present in SE part of the country by the border with Slovakia (Krynica-Muszyna area). CO2 exhaled there comes from metamorphism of sedimentary rocks (carbonates), migrating through fault zones. In one area (Złockie-Jastrzębik) at least 11 kt/yr is released; together with other seeps it makes about 30 kt of CO2 seeps for the whole country. Reservoirs of liquid CO2 (maybe also supercritical?) exist at suitable depth as drillings proved. Together with CO2 seeps carbonated water reservoirs exist and are utilized in spas together with CO2 gas.
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