Potential evaluation of saline aquifers for the geological storage of carbon dioxide: A case study of saline aquifers in the Qian-5 member in northeastern Ordos Basin

The well-developed coal electricity generation and coal chemical industries have led to huge carbon dioxide(CO_(2))emissions in the northeastern Ordos Basin.The geological storage of CO_(2) in saline aquifers is an effective backup way to achieve carbon neutrality.In this case,the potential of saline aquifers for CO_(2) storage serves as a critical basis for subsequent geological storage project.This study calculated the technical control capacities of CO_(2) of the saline aquifers in the fifth member of the Shiqianfeng Formation(the Qian-5 member)based on the statistical analysis of the logging and the drilling and core data from more than 200 wells in the northeastern Ordos Basin,as well as the sedimentary facies,formation lithology,and saline aquifer development patterns of the Qian-5 member.The results show that(1)the reservoirs of saline aquifers in the Qian-5 member,which comprise distributary channel sand bodies of deltaic plains,feature low porosities and permeabilities;(2)The study area hosts three NNE-directed saline aquifer zones,where saline aquifers generally have a single-layer thickness of 3‒8 m and a cumulative thickness of 8‒24 m;(3)The saline aquifers of the Qian-5 member have a total technical control capacity of CO_(2) of 119.25×10^(6) t.With the largest scale and the highest technical control capacity(accounting for 61%of the total technical control capacity),the Jinjie-Yulin saline aquifer zone is an important prospect area for the geological storage of CO_(2) in the saline aquifers of the Qian-5 member in the study area.

A CO_(2) storage potential evaluation method for saline aquifers in a petroliferous basin

According to the requirements for large-scale project implementation, a four-scale and three-level CO_(2)storage potential evaluation method is proposed for saline aquifers in a petroliferous basin in China, considering geological,engineering and economic factors. The four scales include basin scale, depression scale, play scale and trap scale, and the three levels include theoretical storage capacity, engineering storage capacity, and economic storage capacity. The theoretical storage capacity can be divided into four trapping mechanisms, i.e. structural & stratigraphic trapping, residual trapping, solubility trapping and mineral trapping, depending upon the geological parameters, reservoir conditions and fluid properties in the basin. The engineering storage capacity is affected by the injectivity, storage security pressure, well number, and injection time.The economic storage capacity mainly considers the carbon pricing yield, drilling investment, and operation cost, based on the break-even principle. Application of the method for saline aquifer in the Gaoyou sag of the Subei Basin reveals that the structural & stratigraphic trapping occupies the largest proportion of the theoretical storage capacity, followed by the solubility trapping and the residual trapping, and the mineral trapping takes the lowest proportion. The engineering storage capacity and the economic storage capacity are significantly lower than the theoretical storage capacity when considering the constrains of injectivity, security and economy, respectively accounting for 21.0% and 17.6% of the latter.

Analysis of pressure response at an observation well against pressure build-up by early stage of CO_(2)geological storage project

To ensure a safe and stable CO_(2)storage,pressure responses at an observation well are expected to be an important and useful field monitoring item to estimate the CO_(2)storage behaviors and the aquifer parameters during and after injecting CO_(2),because it can detect whether the injected CO_(2)leaks to the ground surface or the bottom of the sea.In this study,pressure responses were simulated to present design factors such as well location and pressure transmitter of the observation well.Numerical simulations on the pressure response and the time-delay from pressure build-up after CO_(2)injection were conducted by considering aquifer parameters and distance from the CO_(2)injection well to an observation well.The measurement resolution of a pressure transmitter installed in the observation well was presented based on numerical simulation results of the pressure response against pressure build-up at the injection well and CO_(2)plume front propagations.Furthermore,the pressure response at an observation well was estimated by comparing the numerical simulation results with the curve of CO_(2)saturation and relative permeability.It was also suggested that the analytical solution can be used for the analysis of the pressure response tendency using pressure build-up and dimensionless parameters of hydraulic diffusivity.Thus,a criterion was established for selecting a pressure transducer installed at an observation well to monitor the pressure responses with sufficient accuracy and resolution,considering the distance from the injection well and the pressure build-up at the injection well,for future carbon capture and storage(CCS)projects.

Characteristics of CO_2 sequestration in saline aquifers

Storage of CO2 in saline aquifers is a viable option for reducing the amount of CO2 released to the atmosphere. This paper provides an overall review of CO2 sequestration in saline aquifers. First, the principles of CO2 sequestration are presented, including CO2 phase behavior, CO2-water-rock interaction, and CO2 trapping mechanisms. Then storage capacity and CO2 injectivity are discussed as the main determinants of the storage potential of saline aquifers. Next, a site section process is addressed considering basin characteristics, reservoir characteristics, and economic and social concerns. Three main procedures are then presented to investigate the suitability of a site for CO2 sequestration, including site screening, detailed site characterization, and pilot field-scale test. The methods for these procedures are also presented, such as traditional site characterization methods, laboratory experiments, and numerical simulation. Finally, some operational aspects of sequestration are discussed, including well type, injection rate, CO2 purity, and injection strategy.

Sensitivity analysis of CO_2 sequestration in saline aquifers

Carbon capture and storage （CCS） technology has been considered as an important method for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and for mitigating global climate change. Three primary options are being considered for large-scale storage of CO2 in subsurface formations： oil and gas reservoirs, deep saline aquifers, and coal beds. There are very many large saline aquifers around the world, which could make a big contribution to mitigating global warming. However, we have much less understanding of saline aquifers than oil and gas reservoirs. Several mechanisms are involved in the storage of CO2 in deep saline aquifers, but the ultimate goal of injection of CO2 into the aquifers containing salt water is to dissolve the CO2 in the water. So it is important to study the solubility trapping and sensitivity factors of CO2 in saline aquifers. This paper presents results of modeling CO2 storage in a saline aquifer using the commercial reservoir simulator ECLIPSE. The objective of this study was to better understand the CO2/brine phase behavior （PVT properties） and quantitatively estimate the most important CO2 storage mechanism in brine-solubility trapping. This would provide a tool by performing theoretical and numerical studies that help to understand the feasibility of CO2 geological storage. A 3-dimensional, 2-phase （water/gas） conceptional reservoir model used finite, homogenous and isothermal formations into which CO2 is injected at a constant rate. The effects of main parameters were studied, including the vertical to horizontal permeability ratio kv/kh, salinity, and residual phase saturations. The results show that the vertical to horizontal permeability ratio has a significant effect on CO2 storage. Moreover, more CO2 dissolves in the brine at lower kv/kh values.

Prediction of Impending Drought Scenarios Based on Surface and Subsurface Parameters in a Selected Region of Tropical Queensland, Australia

Droughts occur in all climatic regions around the world costing a large expense to global economies. Reasonably accurate prediction of drought events helps water managers proper planning for utilization of limited water resources and distribution of available waters to different sectors and avoid catastrophic consequences. Therefore, a means to create a simplistic approach for forecasting drought conditions with easily accessible parameters is highly desirable. This study proposes and evaluates newly developed accurate prediction models utilizing various hydrologic, meteorological, and geohydrology parameters along with the use of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models with various forecast lead times. The present study develops a multitude of forecasting models to predict drought indices such as the Standard Precipitation Index with a lead-time of up to 6 months, and the Soil Moisture Index with a lead-time of 3 months. Furthermore, prediction models with the capability of approximating surface and groundwater storage levels including the Ross River Dam level have been developed with relatively high accuracy with a lead-time of 3 months. The results obtained from these models were compared to current values, revealing that ANN based approach can be used as a simple and effective predictive model that can be utilized for prediction of different aspects of drought scenarios in a typical study area like Townsville, North Queensland, Australia which had suffered severe recent drought conditions for almost six recent years (2014 to early 2019).

Laboratory core flooding experimental systems for CO_2 geosequestration: An updated review over the past decade

Carbon dioxide(CO2) geosequestration in deep saline aquifers has been currently deemed as a preferable and practicable mitigation means for reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gases(GHGs) emissions to the atmosphere, as deep saline aquifers can offer the greatest potential from a capacity point of view. Hence,research on core-scale CO2/brine multiphase migration processes is of great significance for precisely estimating storage efficiency, ensuring storage security, and predicting the long-term effects of the sequestered CO2in subsurface saline aquifers. This review article initially presents a brief description of the essential aspects of CO2subsurface transport and geological trapping mechanisms, and then outlines the state-of-the-art laboratory core flooding experimental apparatus that has been adopted for simulating CO2injection and migration processes in the literature over the past decade. Finally, a summary of the characteristics, components and applications of publicly reported core flooding equipment as well as major research gaps and areas in need of further study are given in relevance to laboratory-scale core flooding experiments in CO2geosequestration under reservoir conditions.

Potential assessment of CO_(2)geological storage based on injection scenario simulation:A case study in eastern Junggar Basin

Carbon Capture and Storage(CCS)is one of the effective means to deal with global warming,and saline aquifer storage is considered to be the most promising storage method.Junggar Basin,located in the northern part of Xinjiang and with a large distribution area of saline aquifer,is an effective carbon storage site.Based on well logging data and 2D seismic data,a 3D heterogeneous geological model of the Cretaceous Donggou Formation reservoir near D7 well was constructed,and dynamic simulations under two scenarios of single-well injection and multi-well injection were carried out to explore the storage potential and CO2 storage mechanism of deep saline aquifer with real geological conditions in this study.The results show that within 100 km^(2)of the saline aquifer of Donggou Formation in the vicinity of D7 well,the theoretical static CO_(2)storage is 71.967×106 tons(P50)①,and the maximum dynamic CO_(2)storage is 145.295×106 tons(Case2).The heterogeneity of saline aquifer has a great influence on the spatial distribution of CO_(2)in the reservoir.The multi-well injection scenario is conducive to the efficient utilization of reservoir space and safer for storage.Based on the results from theoretical static calculation and the dynamic simulation,the effective coefficient of CO_(2)storage in deep saline aquifer in the eastern part of Xinjiang is recommended to be 4.9%.This study can be applied to the engineering practice of CO_(2)sequestration in the deep saline aquifer in Xinjiang.