Mapping existing wellbore locations to compare technical risks between onshore and offshore CCS activities in Texas

Meckel, Tip A.; Treviño, Ramón H.; Hovorka, Susan D.; Bump, Alex P.

doi:10.1002/ghg.2220

Mapping existing wellbore locations to compare technical risks between onshore and offshore CCS activities in Texas

Journal Article · Sun Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.2220· OSTI ID:1992527

Meckel, Tip A. ^[1]; Treviño, Ramón H. ^[2]; Hovorka, Susan D. ^[2]; Bump, Alex P. ^[2]

Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States); Gulf Coast Carbon Center
Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

Carbon dioxide capture and geologic storage (CCS; geologic sequestration) is a promising technology for reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere from industrial point sources. Aspects of CCS have been investigated for over two decades, and many large- and small-scale geologic storage field demonstration projects are now underway globally. Interest in offshore CCS has been increasing in recent years (e.g., European Union, Australia, Japan, and the United States). Deep geologic storage in offshore settings is analogous to onshore CCS activities in many respects (i.e., geologic and geotechnical aspects), but is distinct from previously explored seabed sediment CO₂ storage) or deep marine dissolution). Given the large subsurface geologic storage volumes available in offshore settings, much discussion of offshore CCS is focused on the benefits and risks of such activity compared to onshore settings. Similar to onshore settings, existing (legacy) wells likely present the most direct migration pathway and largest risk of noncontainment in offshore settings. As part of current studies to evaluate geologic storage options in offshore settings along the Texas coast and greater Gulf of Mexico (GoM), mapping of the geographic distribution and ages of wells in a region containing coastal counties and extending 30 miles offshore Texas indicates that both well spatial density and well age decrease moving from onshore to offshore. Results suggest reduced risk of leakage owing to more rigorous and documented well completion and abandonment practices for these generally younger wells (although many are decades old). A result of decreased well density is that larger areas are available for leasing for CCS projects that avoid legacy wells altogether (> 1 mile from any existing well). The one-mile designation is used as an arbitrary convention, and while it is recognized that this is smaller than a typical area of review (AoR) for permitting, each site will have a different AoR radius for consideration. Finally, the combination of large subsurface storage volumes under control of a single landowner and reduced risks from legacy wells makes offshore CCS attractive in the GoM.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE), Clean Coal and Carbon Management

Contributing Organization:: Bureau of Economic Geology; Gulf Coast Carbon Center

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0031558

OSTI ID:: 1992527

Journal Information:: Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Journal Name: Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 13; ISSN 2152-3878

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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58 GEOSCIENCES
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Texas
carbon storage
legacy wells
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offshore storage
well density

Mapping existing wellbore locations to compare technical risks between onshore and offshore CCS activities in Texas

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