Geologic Sequestration of CO₂ in a Depleted Oil Reservoir: A Comprehensive Modeling and Site Monitoring Project
Project # FWP-FEW34895

Primary Performing Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories

Underground geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), the predominant greenhouse gas emitted from fossil fuel-based power generation, has the potential to be both a cost-effective and environmentally safe means of mitigating global warming.  This is particularly true of CO₂ sequestration in depleted oil reservoirs.  This study was launched to identify gaps in the science and technology related to this type of long-term CO₂ storage.

This project entails conducting a pilot-scale field experiment in a pressure-depleted sandstone oil reservoir.  The experiment will predict and monitor the migration and ultimate state of injected CO₂.  See photograph of oil rig.

The specific objectives of the project are to:

• Characterize the oil reservoir and its capacity to sequester CO₂.
• Predict multiphase fluid migration and interactions.
• Deploy and evaluate improved remote geophysical monitoring.
• Measure CO₂/reservoir reactions.
• Conduct computer simulations and lab measurements of fluid flow.
• Assess and predict complex geologic sequestration processes.
• Inject several thousand tons of CO₂ into a depleted oil reservoir.
• Establish a pre-injection baseline and assess post-injection reservoir conditions to validate predictions.

The data collected will be used to predict reservoir storage capability and the physical and chemical changes in reservoir properties once CO₂ is introduced.  During the project, science and technology gaps related to the engineering aspects of CO₂ sequestration will be identified.

Contact:
Project Manager: Andrea McNemar, Andrea.McNemar@netl.doe.gov

Related Papers and Publications:

• Sequestration in a Depleted Oil Reservoir Fact Sheet [PDF]