Protecting Drinking Water: UIC Class VI Fact Sheets. Addressing the Drinking Water Risks Associated with Injection

摘要

There are four major pathways through which injected fluids can migrate into underground sources of drinking water (USDWs): the drilled holes (well bores) of improperly constructed injection wells, improperly plugged nearby wells, transmissive faults or fractures in the surrounding rock formations, and lateral movement into hydraulically-connected USDWs. The Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI requirements, for wells used for geologic sequestration (GS), are designed to address these pathways with regard to the injection of carbon dioxide (CO2). Proper GS project management will appropriately mitigate potential risks of endangerment to USDWs posed by CO2 injection activities.