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Numerical investigation of the influence of interaction between wellbore flow and lateral reservoir flow on CO2 geological sequestration

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Abstract

A wellbore and a combined reservoir system are essential for the management of subsurface fluid resources and the geological storage of CO2. But the interaction between wellbore and reservoir flow is often neglected in studies of the combined system. A 2D radial model, considering the interaction of wellbore and reservoir flow was developed to investigate its impact on CO2 geological sequestration. The mass, energy and momentum equations for the wellbore and reservoir were solved using T2Well/ECO2N. The gas flow rate of the reservoir and wellbore are predicted, and the impact of interaction between wellbore and reservoir flow on the CO2 plume distribution and evolution was investigated. Furthermore, the influence of the CO2 injection rate, reservoir properties and salinity on the distribution of wellbore and reservoir flow was also explored. Interaction between the wellbore and reservoir flows determines the distribution of the reservoir gas flow rate which combined with layer thickness and porosity controls the horizontal distribution and evolution of the CO2 plume. The CO2 wellhead injection rate and reservoir properties (including lateral transmissivity, permeability) are vital factors influencing wellbore and reservoir flows. However, reservoir salinity has little effect on the interaction between the wellbore flow and the reservoir flow, but increased reservoir salinity can accelerate the horizontal migration of CO2. The results of this study may help to change the widely held opinion that the distribution of the injected CO2 among the individual layers is simply proportional to their transmissivity, and thereby enhance our understanding of CO2 evolution beneath the surface and provide theoretical support for safe and potential geological storage of CO2.

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Abbreviations

K :

The index for components, k = 1 (H2O), 2 (salt), 3 (CO2), and 4 (energy)

M k :

The accumulation terms of the components and energy k, kg m−3

q k :

Source/sink terms for mass or energy components, kg m−3 s−1

F k :

The mass or energy transport terms along the borehole due to an advective process, W m−1

\(X_{{_{\beta } }}^{{^{k} }}\) :

Mass fraction of component k in fluid phase β, (β = G, gas, β = L, liquid), dimensionless

ρ β :

The density of phase β, kg m−3

S β :

Saturation of phase β, dimensionless

u β :

The Darcy’s velocity in phase β, m s−1

A :

The well cross-sectional area, m2

z :

Distance along-wellbore coordinate (can be vertical, inclined, or horizontal), m

U β :

The internal energy of phase β per unit mass, J kg−1

\(\frac{1}{2}u_{\beta }^{2}\) :

The momentum of phase β per unit mass, J kg−1

λ :

Thermal conductivity, W K−1 m−1

h β :

The specific enthalpy of phase β, J kg−1

g :

Gravitational acceleration constant, m s−2

θ :

The angle of inclination of the wellbore, dimensionless

q″:

The wellbore heat loss/gain per unit length of wellbore, kg m−3 s−1

T :

Temperature, C, K

T :

Time, s

C 0 :

The profile parameter (or distribution coefficient), dimensionless

u d :

Drift velocity, m s−1

ρ m :

The density of the gas–liquid mixture, kg m−3

u m :

The mixture velocity (velocity of the mixture mass center), m s−1

ρ *m :

The profile-adjusted average density, kg m−3

u in :

The flow in mass flow rate of wellbore block, kg s−1

u out :

The flow out mass flow rate of wellbore block, kg s−1

u reservoir :

The mass flow rate at the interface of wellbore and reservoir, kg s−1

\(\upsilon_{\text{m}}\) :

The CO2 migration velocity, m s−1

\(u\) :

Reservoir gas flow rate, kg s−1

H :

Layer thickness, m

\(\phi\) :

Porosity, SI

s s :

Solid saturation, SI

\(\phi_{\text{r}}\) :

The fraction of original porosity, SI

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by project 201211063 of the Ministry of Land and Resources of PRC, and the China Australia Geological Storage of CO2 Project Phase 2 (CAGS2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Danqing Liu, Yilian Li & Ying Yu

  2. Fujian Institute of Oceanography, Xiamen, 361013, China

    Le Xu

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  1. Danqing Liu
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  2. Yilian Li
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  3. Le Xu
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  4. Ying Yu
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Correspondence to Yilian Li.

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Liu, D., Li, Y., Xu, L. et al. Numerical investigation of the influence of interaction between wellbore flow and lateral reservoir flow on CO2 geological sequestration. Environ Earth Sci 74, 715–726 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4076-5

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