Modeling of Carbon Dioxide Leakage from Storage Aquifers

Fluids

Parvaneh Heidari¹  Hassan Hassanzadeh¹ 

[1] Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;

关键词: CO₂ sequestration;    leakage;    fault;    gravity number;    capillary number;   

DOI  :  10.3390/fluids3040080

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Long-term geological storage of CO₂ in deep saline aquifers offers the possibility of sustaining access to fossil fuels while reducing emissions. However, prior to implementation, associated risks of CO₂ leakage need to be carefully addressed to ensure safety of storage. CO₂ storage takes place by several trapping mechanisms that are active on different time scales. The injected CO₂ may be trapped under an impermeable rock due to structural trapping. Over time, the contribution of capillary, solubility, and mineral trapping mechanisms come into play. Leaky faults and fractures provide pathways for CO₂ to migrate upward toward shallower depths and reduce the effectiveness of storage. Therefore, understanding the transport processes and the impact of various forces such as viscous, capillary and gravity is necessary. In this study, a mechanistic model is developed to investigate the influence of the driving forces on CO₂ migration through a water saturated leakage pathway. The developed numerical model is used to determine leakage characteristics for different rock formations from a potential CO₂ storage site in central Alberta, Canada. The model allows for preliminary analysis of CO₂ leakage and finds applications in screening and site selection for geological storage of CO₂ in deep saline aquifers.

【 授权许可】

Unknown