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Microbial stimulation and succession following a test well injection simulating CO2 leakage into a shallow Newark Basin aquifer

Microbial stimulation and succession following a test well injection simulating CO2 leakage into a shallow Newark Basin aquifer
Microbial stimulation and succession following a test well injection simulating CO2 leakage into a shallow Newark Basin aquifer
In addition to efforts aimed at reducing anthropogenic production of greenhouse gases, geological storage of CO2 is being explored as a strategy to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emission and mitigate climate change. Previous studies of the deep subsurface in North America have not fully considered the potential negative effects of CO2 leakage into shallow drinking water aquifers, especially from a microbiological perspective. A test well in the Newark Rift Basin was utilized in two field experiments to investigate patterns of microbial succession following injection of CO2-saturated water into an isolated aquifer interval, simulating a CO2 leakage scenario. A decrease in pH following injection of CO2 saturated aquifer water was accompanied by mobilization of trace elements (e.g. Fe and Mn), and increased bacterial cell concentrations in the recovered water. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence libraries from samples collected before and after the test well injection were compared to link variability in geochemistry to changes in aquifer microbiology. Significant changes in microbial composition, compared to background conditions, were found following the test well injections, including a decrease in Proteobacteria, and an increased presence of Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia and microbial taxa often noted to be associated with iron and sulfate reduction. The concurrence of increased microbial cell concentrations and rapid microbial community succession indicate significant changes in aquifer microbial communities immediately following the experimental CO2 leakage event. Samples collected one year post-injection were similar in cell number to the original background condition and community composition, although not identical, began to revert toward the pre-injection condition, indicating microbial resilience following a leakage disturbance. This study provides a first glimpse into the in situ successional response of microbial communities to CO2 leakage after subsurface injection in the Newark Basin and the potential microbiological impact of CO2 leakage on drinking water resources.
1932-6203
O’Mullan, Gregory
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Dueker, M. Elias
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Clauson, Kale
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Yang, Qiang
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Umemoto, Kelsey
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Zakharova, Natalia
97848c56-42ce-44b0-9a01-0fb6da7dae3e
Matter, Juerg
abb60c24-b6cb-4d1a-a108-6fc51ee20395
Stute, Martin
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Takahashi, Taro
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Goldberg, David
c07dd91c-9fb6-4bb2-8834-d749b660ca63
O’Mullan, Gregory
6117d989-4ded-400d-8a01-c1da617275e9
Dueker, M. Elias
45760ab2-c01d-4e2e-8cb3-a72ea490680d
Clauson, Kale
cdf89c26-c899-46fd-b3d3-3db8a7fc96f8
Yang, Qiang
55b6f441-e2f9-4f17-9509-eb74c67a15a5
Umemoto, Kelsey
d811a163-e90d-429b-9bb8-c70c13595dbf
Zakharova, Natalia
97848c56-42ce-44b0-9a01-0fb6da7dae3e
Matter, Juerg
abb60c24-b6cb-4d1a-a108-6fc51ee20395
Stute, Martin
1d6a7971-cf3f-48d4-8962-da892b51b25b
Takahashi, Taro
392ee228-076d-4bb9-bc71-98823263b840
Goldberg, David
c07dd91c-9fb6-4bb2-8834-d749b660ca63

O’Mullan, Gregory, Dueker, M. Elias, Clauson, Kale, Yang, Qiang, Umemoto, Kelsey, Zakharova, Natalia, Matter, Juerg, Stute, Martin, Takahashi, Taro and Goldberg, David (2015) Microbial stimulation and succession following a test well injection simulating CO2 leakage into a shallow Newark Basin aquifer. PLoS ONE, 10 (1), [e0117812]. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117812).

Record type: Article

Abstract

In addition to efforts aimed at reducing anthropogenic production of greenhouse gases, geological storage of CO2 is being explored as a strategy to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emission and mitigate climate change. Previous studies of the deep subsurface in North America have not fully considered the potential negative effects of CO2 leakage into shallow drinking water aquifers, especially from a microbiological perspective. A test well in the Newark Rift Basin was utilized in two field experiments to investigate patterns of microbial succession following injection of CO2-saturated water into an isolated aquifer interval, simulating a CO2 leakage scenario. A decrease in pH following injection of CO2 saturated aquifer water was accompanied by mobilization of trace elements (e.g. Fe and Mn), and increased bacterial cell concentrations in the recovered water. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence libraries from samples collected before and after the test well injection were compared to link variability in geochemistry to changes in aquifer microbiology. Significant changes in microbial composition, compared to background conditions, were found following the test well injections, including a decrease in Proteobacteria, and an increased presence of Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia and microbial taxa often noted to be associated with iron and sulfate reduction. The concurrence of increased microbial cell concentrations and rapid microbial community succession indicate significant changes in aquifer microbial communities immediately following the experimental CO2 leakage event. Samples collected one year post-injection were similar in cell number to the original background condition and community composition, although not identical, began to revert toward the pre-injection condition, indicating microbial resilience following a leakage disturbance. This study provides a first glimpse into the in situ successional response of microbial communities to CO2 leakage after subsurface injection in the Newark Basin and the potential microbiological impact of CO2 leakage on drinking water resources.

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Published date: 30 January 2015
Organisations: Geochemistry

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 374672
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/374672
ISSN: 1932-6203
PURE UUID: e9552397-4066-4ae5-aee8-95967537edfc
ORCID for Juerg Matter: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1070-7371

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Date deposited: 25 Feb 2015 11:57
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:45

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Contributors

Author: Gregory O’Mullan
Author: M. Elias Dueker
Author: Kale Clauson
Author: Qiang Yang
Author: Kelsey Umemoto
Author: Natalia Zakharova
Author: Juerg Matter ORCID iD
Author: Martin Stute
Author: Taro Takahashi
Author: David Goldberg

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