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A modeling and numerical simulation study of enhanced CO2 sequestration into deep saline formation: a strategy towards climate change mitigation

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Abstract

The net increase in anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion contributes significantly to the global warming and climate change. CO2 capture and storage (CCS) in geological formations, specifically in deep saline aquifers, is among the very promising strategies to control and mitigate emissions into the atmosphere. Injection of CO2 into a reservoir may result in the formation of pore pressure which can initiate cracks and trigger fault activities. CO2 may leak into the atmosphere and invade shallow groundwater sources. Release of CO2 into the atmosphere has enormous effects on the environment and significantly contributes to global climate change. Therefore, storage safety, injection efficiency, and monitoring remain crucially important considerations in CO2 injection. This study attempts to establish an optimal CO2 injection strategy that aims at enhancing CO2 storage with an increased safety at Ordos basin. Furthermore, it establishes the safety limits of CO2 plume migration from the central axis of the injection well. In the investigation, injection parameters such as injection rate and bottom hole pressure were analyzed. The CO2 plume migration analysis was performed, and migration limits were determined. Simulation results revealed that different formation layers have varying storage capacities and pressure withstanding ability. The site maximum storage rate goal of storing 100,000 t of CO2 per year was attained. It is advised to perform injection at the Majiagou layer due to sufficient storage capacity and greater depth of over 2400 m from the surface. This study recommends that an optimum CO2 sequestration strategy which does not result into excessive migration of injected CO2 plume and limit formation pressure buildup should be adopted. Therefore, deep underground storage at an average depth of above 2400 m is optimum, because it has an adequate storage space to accommodate the desired rate of 100,000 t/year. Besides, its geological settings favor storage safety in the event of significant uplift that may cause induced seismicity. Furthermore, it will also limit CO2 plume that may come into contact with shallow groundwater sources. Likewise, investing in low carbon and carbon-free energy technologies and enhancement of energy efficiency systems around the site is also recommended.

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Notes

  1. Fossil fuels are the sources of energy originating from natural processes that occurred within the Earth’s surface over long period of time (millions of years). They are mostly formed from remains of living organisms.

  2. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an intergovernmental organ established by United Nations to serve the world in scientific views and approaches of climate change, its ordinary, economic, and political impacts and risks, together with potential options for its response. The body prepares assessment and special reports on climate change from its causes, impacts, and possible practical response.

  3. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an organ established under the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1974 in the wake of world oil crisis in 1973. The agency’s main focus is energy security, environmental protection, and economic development. It promotes clean energy sources: balanced energy polices and world energy technology sharing.

  4. A geological formation is a principle component of lithostratigraphy. It is a subsurface structure composed of rock grains, minerals, and organic materials formed after they have been transported and deposited.

  5. Deep saline aquifers are sedimentary rock formations which are saturated with salt and non-potable water. In these aquifers, water can be withdrawn and fluids can be injected through a penetrated well.

  6. LandSim is the 3D high-resolution commercial modeling and simulation package. The simulator employs unstructured grid systems coupled with complex fluid flowing mechanisms.

  7. Cap rock, also called a seal rock, is the rock which is relatively impermeable and able to form a barrier on top or around the reservoir formation so as to restrict migration of fluids. Common types of cap rocks include shale, sandstone, and anhydrate or salt.

  8. ZSZ1 is an abbreviation of ZhongShenZhu1, a name given to an injection well at Shenhua CCS demonstration project.

  9. ZSJ1 represents monitoring well ZhongShenJian1 located at a distance of 70 m west of an injection well ZSZ1.

  10. ZSJ2 stands for ZhongShenJian2, a monitoring well at a distance of 30 m north of injection well ZSZ1.

  11. Total dissolved solids (TDS) refers to the total concentration level of dissolved substances in water; its main components include inorganic salts and small amount of organic matter. It is measured in mg/L (milligrams per liter of water) or g/L (grams per liter of water).

  12. Geothermal gradient is the rate of increase in Earth’s temperature with the increase in depth beneath the earth’s surface. In most parts of the world, the rate is approximately 25 °C per kilometer.

  13. In an isothermal process, the temperature of the system is retained constant or unchanged throughout the thermodynamic process.

  14. Isopach maps are useful in illustration and delineation of thickness variations within a tubular unit, stratum, or layer. They are similar to isochore maps which represents contour lines with equal thickness over a given area.

  15. LandMod is the advanced geological modeling tool which has the ability to detailed model complex subsurface structures by integrating data records from seismic, boreholes, wells, faults, logs, and horizons. It can handle a large number of grids with high quality and accuracy.

  16. Local grid refinement is a very promising technique for improved numerical simulation accuracy. It enhances grid characterization and definition in regions which require high degree of certainty in resolving the multiphase fluid flow problems and other related local physical behaviors of a reservoir.

  17. Bottom hole pressure (BHP) is the pressure exerted at the bottom of the wellbore. It is normally calculated by summing the hydrostatic pressure due to fluid column and the surface pump pressure recorded in an injection test.

  18. CO2 injectivity expresses how easy the CO2 can be injected into the formation; the higher the injectivity, the more permeable the geological formation behaves. Injectivity measures the rate at which fluid can be injected in the borehole or well.

  19. CO2 leakage is the movement of injected CO2 across the limit of the storage region. This migration may lead to significant negative impacts on the environment if not properly controlled.

  20. Formation pressure is the pressure in the subsurface due to formation fluids. It is also known as hydrostatic pressure, or the pressure due to column of water from the formation's depth to the sea level.

  21. Pascal (Pa) is the SI unit for pressure, and is equal to or defined as one Newton per square meter (N/m2 or kg/m·s2).

  22. A darcy and millidarcy are units of permeability; they have been named after Henry Darcy. A darcy has its dimensional units expressed in length2. 1 darcy is equal to 1000 millidarcies (mD). Also, 1 Darcy is equivalent to 9.87 × 10−13 m2 day.

Abbreviations

IPCC:

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

CCS:

Carbon dioxide capture and storage

TDS:

Total dissolved solids

BHP:

Bottom hole pressure

IEA:

International Energy Agency

3D:

3-Dimensional

VSP:

Vertical seismic profile

Abbreviations

ϕ:

Porosity (%, porosity units)

S:

Saturation (%)

ρ:

Density (kg/m3)

P:

Pressure (Pa)Footnote 21

T:

Time (s)

k :

Permeability (Darcy or m2)Footnote 22

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Acknowledgments

Authors are very grateful and appreciative of the technical guidance provided by all individuals during the entire research period.

Funding

This study was financially supported by the China Scholarship Council (CSC)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Rashid Mohamed Mkemai & Gong Bin

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  1. Rashid Mohamed Mkemai
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  2. Gong Bin
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Correspondence to Rashid Mohamed Mkemai.

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Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an odorless, colorless gas made of a carbon atom covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It naturally occurs in air as a trace gas at approximately 0.04% by volume. It has a density of around 0.6 kg/m3 higher compared to dry air. It acts as a greenhouse gas.

CO2 capture and storage (CCS) involves separation, transportation, and permanent storage of CO2 resulting from large industries and energy sources for the purpose of isolating it from the Earth’s atmosphere.

CO2 plume migration is an evenly upwards and lateral buoyant movement of an injected CO2 filling any trap encountered in the reservoir including stratigraphic and/or structural traps.

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Mkemai, R.M., Bin, G. A modeling and numerical simulation study of enhanced CO2 sequestration into deep saline formation: a strategy towards climate change mitigation. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 25, 901–927 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-019-09900-6

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