Well Control Strategies for Effective CO2 Subsurface Storage: Optimization and Policies †
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Key Subsurface Policies in CO2 Geological Storage: Outline and Application
2.1. Pressure Management: Controlling Pressure Build-Up and Geomechanical Complications
- (1)
- Closed systems are characterized by impervious boundaries surrounding the storage formation and vertical obstruction by impermeable sealing units. These systems lack pressure bleed-off mechanisms and therefore experience a more significant impact from pressure build-up. While closed systems mitigate the risk of brine leakage during CO2 injection, it is essential to maintain pressure below the maximum threshold tolerated by the formation. This is necessary to ensure the mechanical integrity of the storage site, preventing failures in the caprock and reactivation of fractures and faults.
- (2)
- Semi-closed systems have lateral impervious boundaries and are partially sealed above and/or below by semi-permeable sealing units. These systems can effectively reduce reservoir pressurization through pressure bleed-off mechanisms. For example, brine migration into semi-sealing units and lateral displacement of brine help mitigate pressure. However, elevated pressure levels in semi-closed systems may result in brine displacement into freshwater aquifers through leaky faults and wells, posing environmental risks.
- (3)
- Open systems have lateral boundaries located at such a distance that they remain unaffected by pressure disturbances. They naturally experience less pressure build-up compared to closed and semi-closed systems [19].
2.2. Geological Storage Security: Improving Residual and Solubility Trapping
- (1)
- Residual gas trapping: encountered when formation water encroaches or invades the CO2 plume, leaving a portion of the CO2 trapped as residual gas within the pore spaces of the rock formation.
- (2)
- Solubility trapping: Achieved when CO2 partially dissolves into the aqueous phase present in the formation, leading to solubility trapping. This dissolved CO2 is unlikely to leave the solution unless there is a significant decrease in pressure.
- (3)
- Mineral trapping: Anticipated when CO2 reacts with native minerals in the rock formation, resulting in the precipitation of carbonate minerals. This process helps to immobilize CO2 in a more secure manner.
3. The Optimization of Well Control Strategies for Effective CO2 Sequestration in Saline Aquifers
4. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Jarvis, S.M.; Samsatli, S. Technologies and Infrastructures Underpinning Future CO2 Value Chains: A Comprehensive Review and Comparative Analysis. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2018, 85, 46–68. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- International Energy Agency. World Energy Outlook 2022; IEA: Paris, France, 2022. [Google Scholar]
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Prepared by Working Group III. In Climate Change 2022, Mitigation of Climate Change; IPCC: Cambridge, UK, 2021. [Google Scholar]
- International Renewable Energy Agency. World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023: 1.5 °C Pathway; IRENA: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2023. [Google Scholar]
- Bloomberg New Energy Finance. New Energy Outlook 2022; Bloomberg: New York, NY, USA, 2022. [Google Scholar]
- Madejski, P.; Chmiel, K.; Subramanian, N.; Kuś, T. Methods and Techniques for CO2 Capture: Review of Potential Solutions and Applications in Modern Energy Technologies. Energies 2022, 15, 887. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kheirinik, M.; Ahmed, S.; Rahmanian, N. Comparative Techno-Economic Analysis of Carbon Capture Processes: Pre-Combustion, Post-Combustion, and Oxy-Fuel Combustion Operations. Sustainability 2021, 13, 13567. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, X.; Song, C. Carbon Capture From Flue Gas and the Atmosphere: A Perspective. Front. Energy Res. 2020, 8, 560849. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ghiat, I.; Al-Ansari, T. A Review of Carbon Capture and Utilisation as a CO2 Abatement Opportunity within the EWF Nexus. J. CO2 Util. 2021, 45, 101432. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rackley, S.A. Introduction to Geological Storage. In Carbon Capture and Storage; Elsevier: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2017; pp. 285–304. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ji, X.; Zhu, C. CO2 Storage in Deep Saline Aquifers. In Novel Materials for Carbon Dioxide Mitigation Technology; Elsevier: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2015; pp. 299–332. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mohammadian, E.; Mohamed Jan, B.; Azdarpour, A.; Hamidi, H.; Hidayati Binti Othman, N.; Dollah, A.; Nurliyana Binti Che Mohamed Hussein, S.; Azrina Binti Sazali, R. CO2—EOR/Sequestration: Current Trends and Future Horizons. In Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes—New Technologies; IntechOpen: London, UK, 2019. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Liu, S.-Y.; Ren, B.; Li, H.-Y.; Yang, Y.-Z.; Wang, Z.-Q.; Wang, B.; Xu, J.-C.; Agarwal, R. CO2 Storage with Enhanced Gas Recovery (CSEGR): A Review of Experimental and Numerical Studies. Pet. Sci. 2022, 19, 594–607. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hannis, S.; Lu, J.; Chadwick, A.; Hovorka, S.; Kirk, K.; Romanak, K.; Pearce, J. CO2 Storage in Depleted or Depleting Oil and Gas Fields: What Can We Learn from Existing Projects? Energy Procedia 2017, 114, 5680–5690. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Nepveu, M.; Neele, F.; Delprat-Jannaud, F.; Akhurst, M.; Vincké, O.; Volpi, V.; Lothe, A.; Brunsting, S.; Pearce, J.; Battani, A.; et al. CO2 Storage Feasibility: A Workflow for Site Characterisation. Oil Gas Sci. Technol.—Rev. D’ifp Energ. Nouv. 2015, 70, 555–566. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rutqvist, J.; Birkholzer, J.T.; Tsang, C.-F. Coupled Reservoir–Geomechanical Analysis of the Potential for Tensile and Shear Failure Associated with CO2 Injection in Multilayered Reservoir–Caprock Systems. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. 2008, 45, 132–143. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Singh, V.; Cavanagh, A.; Hansen, H.; Nazarian, B.; Iding, M.; Ringrose, P. Reservoir Modeling of CO2 Plume Behavior Calibrated Against Monitoring Data From Sleipner, Norway. In Proceedings of the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Florence, Italy, 19–22 September 2010. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dai, Z.; Xu, L.; Xiao, T.; McPherson, B.; Zhang, X.; Zheng, L.; Dong, S.; Yang, Z.; Soltanian, M.R.; Yang, C.; et al. Reactive Chemical Transport Simulations of Geologic Carbon Sequestration: Methods and Applications. Earth Sci. Rev. 2020, 208, 103265. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhou, Q.; Birkholzer, J.T.; Tsang, C.-F.; Rutqvist, J. A Method for Quick Assessment of CO2 Storage Capacity in Closed and Semi-Closed Saline Formations. Int. J. Greenh. Gas Control 2008, 2, 626–639. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Szulczewski, M.L.; MacMinn, C.W.; Juanes, R. How Pressure Buildup and CO2 Migration Can Both Constrain Storage Capacity in Deep Saline Aquifers. Energy Procedia 2011, 4, 4889–4896. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Court, B.; Bandilla, K.W.; Celia, M.A.; Buscheck, T.A.; Nordbotten, J.M.; Dobossy, M.; Janzen, A. Initial Evaluation of Advantageous Synergies Associated with Simultaneous Brine Production and CO2 Geological Sequestration. Int. J. Greenh. Gas Control. 2012, 8, 90–100. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Buscheck, T.A.; Sun, Y.; Hao, Y.; Wolery, T.J.; Bourcier, W.; Tompson, A.F.B.; Jones, E.D.; Julio Friedmann, S.; Aines, R.D. Combining Brine Extraction, Desalination, and Residual-Brine Reinjection with CO2 Storage in Saline Formations: Implications for Pressure Management, Capacity, and Risk Mitigation. Energy Procedia 2011, 4, 4283–4290. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Birkholzer, J.T.; Cihan, A.; Zhou, Q. Impact-Driven Pressure Management via Targeted Brine Extraction—Conceptual Studies of CO2 Storage in Saline Formations. Int. J. Greenh. Gas Control 2012, 7, 168–180. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cihan, A.; Birkholzer, J.T.; Bianchi, M. Optimal Well Placement and Brine Extraction for Pressure Management during CO2 Sequestration. Int. J. Greenh. Gas Control 2015, 42, 175–187. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Santibanez-Borda, E.; Govindan, R.; Elahi, N.; Korre, A.; Durucan, S. Maximising the Dynamic CO2 Storage Capacity through the Optimisation of CO2 Injection and Brine Production Rates. Int. J. Greenh. Gas Control 2019, 80, 76–95. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Doughty, C.; Pruess, K. Modeling Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Injection in Heterogeneous Porous Media. Vadose Zone J. 2004, 3, 837–847. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Al Hameli, F.; Belhaj, H.; Al Dhuhoori, M. CO2 Sequestration Overview in Geological Formations: Trapping Mechanisms Matrix Assessment. Energies 2022, 15, 7805. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- La Plante, E.C.; Mehdipour, I.; Shortt, I.; Yang, K.; Simonetti, D.; Bauchy, M.; Sant, G.N. Controls on CO2 Mineralization Using Natural and Industrial Alkaline Solids under Ambient Conditions. ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 2021, 9, 10727–10739. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Prepared by Working Group III. In Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage; IPCC; Working Group III: Cambridge, UK, 2005. [Google Scholar]
- Leonenko, Y.; Keith, D.W. Reservoir Engineering To Accelerate the Dissolution of CO2 Stored in Aquifers. Env. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42, 2742–2747. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Hassanzadeh, H.; Pooladi-Darvish, M.; Keith, D.W. Accelerating CO2 Dissolution in Saline Aquifers for Geological Storage—Mechanistic and Sensitivity Studies. Energy Fuels 2009, 23, 3328–3336. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Shamshiri, H.; Jafarpour, B. Optimization of Geologic CO2 Storage in Heterogeneous Aquifers Through Improved Sweep Efficiency. In Proceedings of the SPE International Conference on CO2 Capture, Storage, and Utilization, New Orleans, LA, USA, 10–12 November 2010. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kumar, D. Optimization of Well Settings to Maximize Residually Trapped CO2 in Geologic Carbon Sequestration; Stanford University: Stanford, CA, USA, 2007. [Google Scholar]
- Nghiem, L.; Yang, C.; Shrivastava, V.; Kohse, B.; Hassam, M.; Chen, D.; Card, C. Optimization of Residual Gas and Solubility Trapping for CO2 Storage in Saline Aquifers. In Proceedings of the SPE Reservoir Simulation Symposium, The Woodlands, TX, USA, 2–4 February 2009. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Nghiem, L.; Shrivastava, V.; Kohse, B.; Hassam, M.; Yang, C. Simulation and Optimization of Trapping Processes for CO2 Storage in Saline Aquifers. J. Can. Pet. Technol. 2010, 49, 15–22. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cameron, D.A.; Durlofsky, L.J. Optimization of Well Placement, CO2 Injection Rates, and Brine Cycling for Geological Carbon Sequestration. Int. J. Greenh. Gas Control. 2012, 10, 100–112. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhang, Z.; Agarwal, R.K. Numerical Simulation and Optimization of CO2 Sequestration in Saline Aquifers for Vertical and Horizontal Well Injection. Comput. Geosci. 2012, 16, 891–899. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zhang, Z.; Agarwal, R. Numerical Simulation and Optimization of CO2 Sequestration in Saline Aquifers. Comput. Fluids 2013, 80, 79–87. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cihan, A.; Birkholzer, J.; Bianchi, M. Targeted Pressure Management During CO2 Sequestration: Optimization of Well Placement and Brine Extraction. Energy Procedia 2014, 63, 5325–5332. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tarrahi, M.; Afra, S. Optimization of Geological Carbon Sequestration in Heterogeneous Saline Aquifers through Managed Injection for Uniform CO2 Distribution. In Proceedings of the Carbon Management Technology Conference, Sugar Land, TX, USA, 17–19 November 2015. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Babaei, M.; Pan, I.; Korre, A.; Shi, J.-Q.; Govindan, R.; Durucan, S.; Quinn, M. CO2 Storage Well Rate Optimisation in the Forties Sandstone of the Forties and Nelson Reservoirs Using Evolutionary Algorithms and Upscaled Geological Models. Int. J. Greenh. Gas Control. 2016, 50, 1–13. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Ismail, I.; Gaganis, V. Well Control Strategies for Effective CO2 Subsurface Storage: Optimization and Policies. Mater. Proc. 2023, 15, 74. https://doi.org/10.3390/materproc2023015074
Ismail I, Gaganis V. Well Control Strategies for Effective CO2 Subsurface Storage: Optimization and Policies. Materials Proceedings. 2023; 15(1):74. https://doi.org/10.3390/materproc2023015074
Chicago/Turabian StyleIsmail, Ismail, and Vassilis Gaganis. 2023. "Well Control Strategies for Effective CO2 Subsurface Storage: Optimization and Policies" Materials Proceedings 15, no. 1: 74. https://doi.org/10.3390/materproc2023015074