Abstract

Carbon dioxide sequestration (or Carbon Capture and Storage: CCS ) has been widely discussed as a means of reducing emissions of CO_2 into the atmosphere. CCS involves capturing CO_2 and storing it underground, typically by injecting it down into brine-saturated porous rock. Injected CO_2 spreads under gravity, and can react and dissolve with the water or rock around it. In this talk I will discuss some fluid dynamical and mathematical aspects of modelling the flow of injected CO_2. I will focus in particular on the convective flow of CO_2 that can occur when it dissolves in water, which can strikingly affect the flow patterns through the rock, and which can have a significant effect on the long-term security of storage.