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CO2 geological storage into a lateral aquifer of an offshore gas field in the South China Sea: storage safety and project design

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Abstract

The DF1-1 gas field, located in the western South China Sea, contains a high concentration of CO2, thus there is great concern about the need to reduce the CO2 emissions. Many options have been considered in recent years to dispose of the CO2 separated from the natural gas stream on the Hainan Island. In this study, the feasibility of CO2 storage in the lateral saline aquifer of the DF1-1 gas field is assessed, including aquifer selection and geological assessment, CO2 migration and storage safety, project design, and economic analysis. Six offshore aquifers have been investigated for CO2 geological storage. The lateral aquifer of the DF1-1 gas field has been selected as the best target for CO2 injection and storage because of its proven sealing ability, and the large storage capacity of the combined aquifer and hydrocarbon reservoir geological structure. The separated CO2 will be dehydrated on the Hainan Island and transported by a long-distance subsea pipeline in supercritical or liquid state to the central platform of the DF1-1 gas field for pressure adjustment. The CO2 will then be injected into the lateral aquifer via a subsea well-head through a horizontal well. Reservoir simulations suggest that the injected CO2 will migrate slowly upwards in the aquifer without disturbing the natural gas production. The scoping economic analysis shows that the unit storage cost of the project is approximately US$26-31/ton CO2 with the subsea pipeline as the main contributor to capital expenditure (CAPEX), and the dehydration system as the main factor of operating expenditure (OPEX).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (Huadong), Qingdao, 266580, China

    Liang Zhang, Dexiang Li, Justin Ezekiel, Weidong Zhang & Shaoran Ren

  2. Zhanjiang Branch Company of China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Zhanjiang, 524000, China

    Honggang Mi

Authors
  1. Liang Zhang
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  2. Dexiang Li
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  3. Justin Ezekiel
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  4. Weidong Zhang
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  5. Honggang Mi
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  6. Shaoran Ren
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Correspondence to Liang Zhang.

Additional information

Liang Zhang is a Lecturer in the School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (CUP). He earned his BSc and PhD degrees in Petroleum Engineering from CUP in 2006 and 2011, respectively. His research interests focus on CO2 resource utilization, CO2 geological storage, gas injection for IOR, and unconventional oil and gas development.

Dexiang Li is a first year PhD student in the School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (CUP). He earned his BSc degree (2011) in petroleum engineering from CUP. His research fields include CO2 geological storage and solutions for CO2 leakage risk, etc.

Justin Ezekiel is an MSc student in the School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (CUP). He earned his BSc degree (2009) in Petroleum Geosciences from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. His research interests focus on reservoir characterization, oil & gas field development, gas injection for IOR, etc.

Weidong Zhang is a Professor in the School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (CUP). He earned his BSc and PhD degrees in Oil and Gas Welling Drilling Engineering in 1990 and 2010, respectively. His research interests include CO2 storage mechanisms, natural gas hydration, coalbed methane, rock mechanics, and engineering.

Honggang Mi is a senior engineer in the Exploration and Development Division, Zhanjiang Branch Company of CNOOC. He has more than 10 years working experience on reservoir engineering.

Shaoran Ren is a professor and Taishan Scholar in the School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (CUP). He earned his BSc and MSc degrees (1982 and 1985) in petroleum engineering from CUP, and his PhD degree (1993) in chemical engineering from the Imperial College, London, England. He worked for Bath University and Heriot-Watt University in the UK for over 10 years before joining UPC in 2005. His research interests cover gas/air injection for IOR, CO2 EOR & Storage, gas hydrates, and oilfield flow assurance.

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Zhang, L., Li, D., Ezekiel, J. et al. CO2 geological storage into a lateral aquifer of an offshore gas field in the South China Sea: storage safety and project design. Front. Earth Sci. 9, 286–299 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-014-0462-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-014-0462-7

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