Maximizing CO2 Accumulation in Storage Reservoirs: Interplay between Permeability Retardation and Capillary Trapping of Rising CO2

Authors
Bo Ren (the University of Texas at Austin) | Jennifer M. Delaney (the University of Texas at Austin) | Larry W. Lake (the University of Texas at Austin) | Steven L. Bryant (University of Calgary)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2118/187356-MS
Document ID
SPE-187356-MS
Publisher
Society of Petroleum Engineers
Source
SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 9-11 October, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Publication Date
2017
Document Type
Conference Paper
Language
English
ISBN
978-1-61399-542-6
Copyright
2017. Society of Petroleum Engineers
Disciplines
5.1 Reservoir Characterisation, 5 Reservoir Desciption & Dynamics, 5.1.1 Exploration, Development, Structural Geology
Keywords
Geological carbon sequestration, Capillary-trapping, Permeability-retardation, CO2 buoyant flow
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Summary

The main objective of this work is to understand, by analytical and numerical study, how permeability retardation interacts with capillary barrier trapping to cause accumulation as CO2 migrates upward in saline aquifers during geological sequestration.

The study is of one-dimensional two-phase (CO2 and water) countercurrent flow. The analytical model describes CO2 buoyant migration and accumulation at a "flow barrier zone" (low permeability) above a "flow path zone" (high permeability). The relative importance of permeability retardation and capillary trapping is examined under different magnitudes of buoyant source fluxes and porous media properties. In the limiting case of zero capillary pressure, the model equation is solved using the method of characteristics. Permeability-retarded accumulation, induced by the permeability difference between the flow path and the barrier zone, is illustrated through CO2 saturation profiles and time-distance diagrams. Capillary trapping is subsequently accounted for by graphically incorporating a capillary pressure curve and capillary threshold effect.

Results demonstrate that the accumulation contributions from both the permeability hindrance and capillary trapping are convolved at sufficiently large fluxes. At a given time, the total CO2 accumulated is greater than for capillary trapping, but the former approaches the latter at large time. The low permeability zone need not be completely impermeable for accumulation to occur. We demonstrate that considering only capillary trapping understates the amount of CO2 accumulated beneath low permeability structures during significant periods of a sequestration operation.

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