Recent Soil Carbon Dioxide Flux Measurements at Kızıldere Geothermal Field

Abstract

Geothermal fields in the Western part of Turkey are known for their significant carbon dioxide content that results in considerably high amounts of gas emissions from geothermal power plants during electricity production. Geothermal Emission COntrol (GECO) project aims to address this issue and minimize the amount of carbon dioxide emitted on the fields with similar characteristics around Europe. In the framework of the project, the emitted carbon dioxide is reinjected into the reservoir as a method of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere similar to the CarbFix method carried out in Iceland. One of the pilot reinjection fields of carbon dioxide was set up in the Kızıldere geothermal field in Turkey. The objective of this study is to measure the carbon dioxide fluxes on the surface and detect the leakage, thereby, ensuring that the injected carbon dioxide is trapped in the geothermal reservoir. An automated soil carbon dioxide flux system that utilizes accumulation chamber methodology is used. The flux values are measured at more than sixty station points at the Kızıldere field for two years to create a baseline before the carbon-dioxide gas-charged fluid injection. This study will guide for long-term monitoring of the carbon dioxide gas-charged fluid reinjection process. Furthermore, the technique provides a means of assessing the feasibility of the pilot carbon-dioxide injection process in geothermal fields.