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Heterogeneity, pore pressure, and injectate chemistry: Control measures for geologic carbon storage

Journal Article · · International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [1];  [3];  [5];  [6];  [2];  [7];  [8];  [9];  [1];  [10];  [10];  [3];  [3]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Geomechanics
  2. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences
  3. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Center for Subsurface Modeling, ICES
  4. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Component Science and Mechanics
  5. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Water Power Technologies
  6. Univ. of Texas, San Antonio, TX (United States). Department of Mechanical Engineering
  7. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Nuclear Waste Disposal Research and Analysis
  8. Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States). Department of Mechanical Engineering
  9. New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM (United States)
  10. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States). Department of Civil Engineering
Desirable outcomes for geologic carbon storage include maximizing storage efficiency, preserving injectivity, and avoiding unwanted consequences such as caprock or wellbore leakage or induced seismicity during and post injection. Here, to achieve these outcomes, three control measures are evident including pore pressure, injectate chemistry, and knowledge and prudent use of geologic heterogeneity. Field, experimental, and modeling examples are presented that demonstrate controllable GCS via these three measures. Observed changes in reservoir response accompanying CO2 injection at the Cranfield (Mississippi, USA) site, along with lab testing, show potential for use of injectate chemistry as a means to alter fracture permeability (with concomitant improvements for sweep and storage efficiency). Further control of reservoir sweep attends brine extraction from reservoirs, with benefit for pressure control, mitigation of reservoir and wellbore damage, and water use. State-of-the-art validated models predict the extent of damage and deformation associated with pore pressure hazards in reservoirs, timing and location of networks of fractures, and development of localized leakage pathways. Experimentally validated geomechanics models show where wellbore failure is likely to occur during injection, and efficiency of repair methods. Use of heterogeneity as a control measure includes where best to inject, and where to avoid attempts at storage. Lastly, an example is use of waste zones or leaky seals to both reduce pore pressure hazards and enhance residual CO2 trapping.
Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security (CFSES); Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000; FE0023316; NA0003525; SC0001114
OSTI ID:
1430898
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1549144
Report Number(s):
SAND--2017-13134J; 659281
Journal Information:
International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Journal Name: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Journal Issue: C Vol. 68; ISSN 1750-5836
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (4)

Biological CO2 mitigation by microalgae: technological trends, future prospects and challenges journal May 2019
Grand Challenges (and Great Opportunities) in Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and Diagenesis Research text January 2018
Grand Challenges (and Great Opportunities) in Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and Diagenesis Research journal October 2018
A Review of CO2 Storage in View of Safety and Cost-Effectiveness journal January 2020

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