Applications of Cutting-Edge 3-D Seismic Attribute Technology to the Assessment of Geological Reservoirs for CO₂ Sequestration
Project # NT42734

Primary Performing Organization
University of Houston

This project will develop innovative seismic technology and workflows that can be used to improve evaluation of geological reservoirs for carbon dioxide (CO₂) sequestration.   State-of-the-art seismic attribute technology will be applied toward the detailed interpretation, geological model building, and flow simulation of potential CO₂ sequestration sites.  Study areas have been selected that are representative of the range of candidates for Giga-ton-scale CO₂ sequestration associated with the coal industry.

The specific objectives of this project are to:

• Test and calibrate new frequency- and angle- dependent seismic attributes for the quantification of reservoir characteristics.
• Apply new spectral decomposition and multi-trace seismic attributes to address special problems in imaging small scale features.
• Validate attribute and processing results with the novel reservoir simulation of CO₂ injection into a saline aquifer associated with a severely depleted hydrocarbon reservoir.

The Dickman Field in Kansas will serve as the primary test site for this study.  The simulation of CO₂ injection into a depleted reservoir will be based on seismic attribute derived parameters.  This will allow estimates of CO₂ storage capacity of a typical depleted Mid-continent reservoir.  Results will be combined to develop practical workflows for the application of this technology to CO₂ storage for the coal industry.

Contact:
Project Manager:  Karen Cohen, karen.cohen@netl.doe.gov

Related Papers and Publications:

• Bjorklund, T., 2007, Application of Cutting-Edge 3-D Seismic Attribute Technology to the Assessment of Geological Reservoirs for CO₂ Sequestration, in Proceedings of the University Coal Research/Historically Black Colleges and Universities Review Meeting, June 5-6, 2007, Pittsburgh, PA.