CO2 saturation estimates at Sleipner (North Sea) from seismic tomography and rock physics inversion

CO₂ saturations are estimated at Sleipner using a two-step imaging workflow. The workflow combines seismic tomography (full-waveform inversion) and rock physics inversion and is applied to a two-dimensional seismic line located near the injection point at Sleipner. We use baseline data (1994 vintage, before CO₂ injection) and monitor data that was acquired after 12 years of CO₂ injection (2008 vintage). P-wave velocity models are generated using the Full waveform inversion technology and then, we invert selected rock physics parameters using an rock physics inversion methodology. Full waveform inversion provides high-resolution P-wave velocity models both for baseline and monitor data. The physical relations between rock physics properties and acoustic wave velocities in the Utsira unconsolidated sandstone (reservoir formation) are defined using a dynamic rock physics model based on well-known Biot–Gassmann theories. For data prior to injection, rock frame properties (porosity, bulk and shear dry moduli) are estimated using rock physics inversion that allows deriving physically consistent properties with related uncertainty. We show that the uncertainty related to limited input data (only P-wave velocity) is not an issue because the mean values of parameters are correct. These rock frame properties are then used as a priori constraint in the monitor case. For monitor data, the Full waveform inversion results show nicely resolved thin layers of CO₂–brine saturated sandstones under intra-reservoir shale layers. The CO₂ saturation estimation is carried out by plugging an effective fluid phase in the rock physics model. Calculating the effective fluid bulk modulus of the brine–CO₂ mixture (using Brie equation in our study) is shown to be the key factor to link P-wave velocity to CO₂ saturation. The inversion tests are done with several values of Brie/patchiness exponent and show that the CO₂ saturation estimates are varying between 0.30 and 0.90 depending on the rock physics model and the location in the reservoir. The uncertainty in CO₂ saturation estimation is usually lower than 0.20. When the patchiness exponent is considered as unknown, the inversion is less constrained and we end up with values of exponent varying between 5 and 20 and up to 33 in specific reservoir areas. These estimations tend to show that the CO₂–brine mixing is between uniform and patchy mixing and variable throughout the reservoir.     

Seismic dynamic monitoring in CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> flooding based on characterization of frequency-dependent velocity factor

The phase velocity of seismic waves varies with the propagation frequency, and thus frequency-dependent phenomena appear when CO₂ gas is injected into a reservoir. By dynamically considering these phenomena with reservoir conditions it is thus feasible to extract the frequency-dependent velocity factor with the aim of monitoring changes in the reservoir both before and after CO₂ injection. In the paper, we derive a quantitative expression for the frequency-dependent factor based on the Robinson seismic convolution model. In addition, an inversion equation with a frequency-dependent velocity factor is constructed, and a procedure is implemented using the following four processing steps: decomposition of the spectrum by generalized S transform, wavelet extraction of cross-well seismic traces, spectrum equalization processing, and an extraction method for frequency-dependent velocity factor based on the damped least-square algorithm. An attenuation layered model is then established based on changes in the Q value of the viscoelastic medium, and spectra of migration profiles from forward modeling are obtained and analyzed. Frequency-dependent factors are extracted and compared, and the effectiveness of the method is then verified using a synthetic data. The frequency-dependent velocity factor is finally applied to target processing and oil displacement monitoring based on real seismic data obtained before and after CO₂ injection in the G89 well block within Shengli oilfield. Profiles and slices of the frequency-dependent factor determine its ability to indicate differences in CO₂ flooding, and the predicting results are highly consistent with those of practical investigations within the well block.     

Shear wave velocity prediction during CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-EOR and sequestration in the Gao89 well block of the Shengli Oilfield

Shear-wave velocity is a key parameter for calibrating monitoring time-lapse 4D seismic data during CO₂-EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) and CO₂ sequestration. However, actual S-wave velocity data are lacking, especially in 4D data for CO₂ sequestration because wells are closed after the CO₂ injection and seismic monitoring is continued but no well log data are acquired. When CO₂ is injected into a reservoir, the pressure and saturation of the reservoirs change as well as the elastic parameters of the reservoir rocks. We propose a method to predict the S-wave velocity in reservoirs at different pressures and porosities based on the Hertz–Mindlin and Gassmann equations. Because the coordination number is unknown in the Hertz–Mindlin equation, we propose a new method to predict it. Thus, we use data at different CO₂ injection stages in the Gao89 well block, Shengli Oilfield. First, the sand and mud beds are separated based on the structural characteristics of the thin sand beds and then the S-wave velocity as a function of reservoir pressure and porosity is calculated. Finally, synthetic seismic seismograms are generated based on the predicted P- and S-wave velocities at different stages of CO₂ injection.     

Soil H<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Surveys at Several Active Faults in Japan

Soil H₂ and CO₂ surveys were carried out along seven active faults and around the aftershock region of the 2000 Tottori-ken Seibu earthquake in Japan. Diffuse CO₂ effluxes were also measured along one fault and around the 2000 aftershock region. The results show highly variable H₂ concentration in space and time and it seems that the maximum H₂ concentration at each active fault correlates with fault activity as exemplified by the time of the latest big earthquakes. Even though observed H₂ concentrations in four faults were markedly lower than those collected previously in the latter half of the 1970s, it is evident that the higher H₂ concentrations in this study are due to the addition of the fault gases. Comparing the chemical composition of trapped gases (H₂: 5–20% and CO₂/H₂: 0.5–12) in fractured rocks of drill cores bored at the Nojima fault, a soil gas sample with the highest H₂ concentration showed large amounts of the trapped fault gas, diluted with atmospheric component. The profile experiment across a fracture zone at the Yamasaki fault showed higher H₂ concentrations and lower CO₂/H₂ ratios as was observed in soil gas from the fracture zone. A few days after the 2000 Tottori-kei Seibu earthquake, no CO₂ effluxes related to the occurrence of earthquakes were observed at the aftershock region. However, only above the epicenter zone, relatively high H₂ concentrations in soil gases were observed.     

Interfacial tension measurements and wettability evaluation for geological CO2 storage

Interfacial interactions, namely interfacial tension, wettability, capillarity and interfacial mass transfer are known to govern fluid distribution and behavior in porous media. Therefore the interfacial interactions between CO₂, brine and oil and/or gas reservoirs have a significant influence on the effectiveness of any CO₂ storage operations. However, data and knowledge of interfacial properties in storage conditions are scarce. This issue becomes particularly true in the case of deep saline aquifers where limited, economically driven, data collection and archiving are available. In this paper, we present a complete set of brine–CO₂ interfacial tension data at pressure, temperature and salinity conditions, representative of a CO₂ storage operation. A semi-empirical correlation is proposed to calculate the interfacial tension from the experimental data. Wettability is studied at pore scale, using glass micromodels in order to track fluids distribution as a function of the thermodynamic properties and wettability conditions for water–CO₂ systems. With this approach, we show that, in strongly hydrophilic porous media, the CO₂ does not wet the solid surface whereas; if the porous media has less hydrophilic properties the CO₂ significantly wets the surface.     

Geophysical monitoring technology for CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> sequestration

Geophysical techniques play key roles in the measuring, monitoring, and verifying the safety of CO₂ sequestration and in identifying the efficiency of CO₂-enhanced oil recovery. Although geophysical monitoring techniques for CO₂ sequestration have grown out of conventional oil and gas geophysical exploration techniques, it takes a long time to conduct geophysical monitoring, and there are many barriers and challenges. In this paper, with the initial objective of performing CO₂ sequestration, we studied the geophysical tasks associated with evaluating geological storage sites and monitoring CO₂ sequestration. Based on our review of the scope of geophysical monitoring techniques and our experience in domestic and international carbon capture and sequestration projects, we analyzed the inherent difficulties and our experiences in geophysical monitoring techniques, especially, with respect to 4D seismic acquisition, processing, and interpretation.     

Influence of subsurface injection on time‐lapse seismic: laboratory studies at seismic and ultrasonic frequencies

Seismic monitoring of reservoir and overburden performance during subsurface CO₂ storage plays a key role in ensuring efficiency and safety. Proper interpretation of monitoring data requires knowledge about the rock physical phenomena occurring in the subsurface formations. This work focuses on rock stiffness and elastic velocity changes of a shale overburden formation caused by both reservoir inflation induced stress changes and leakage of CO₂ into the overburden. In laboratory experiments, Pierre shale I core plugs were loaded along the stress path representative for the in situ stress changes experienced by caprock during reservoir inflation. Tests were carried out in a triaxial compaction cell combining three measurement techniques and permitting for determination of (i) ultrasonic velocities, (ii) quasistatic rock deformations, and (iii) dynamic elastic stiffness at seismic frequencies within a single test, which allowed to quantify effects of seismic dispersion. In addition, fluid substitution effects connected with possible CO₂ leakage into the caprock formation were modelled by the modified anisotropic Gassmann model. Results of this work indicate that (i) stress sensitivity of Pierre shale I is frequency dependent; (ii) reservoir inflation leads to the increase of the overburden Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio; (iii) in situ stress changes mostly affect the P‐wave velocities; (iv) small leakage of the CO₂ into the overburden may lead to the velocity changes, which are comparable with one associated with geomechanical influence; (v) non‐elastic effects increase stress sensitivity of an acoustic waves; (iv) and both geomechanical and fluid substitution effects would create significant time shifts, which should be detectable by time‐lapse seismic.     

Time-dependent CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> variations in Lake Albano associated with seismic activity

Lake Albano (Alban Hills volcanic complex, Central Italy) is located in a densely populated area near Rome. The deep lake waters have significant dissolved CO₂ concentrations, probably related to sub-lacustrine fluid discharges fed by a pressurized CO₂-rich reservoir. The analytical results of geochemical surveys carried out in 1989–2010 highlight the episodes of CO₂ removal from the lake. The total mass of dissolved CO₂ decreased from ∼5.8 × 10⁷ kg in 1989 to ∼0.5 × 10⁷ kg in 2010, following an exponential decreasing trend. Calculated values of both dissolved inorganic carbon and CO₂ concentrations along the vertical profile of the lake indicate that this decrease is caused by CO₂ release from the epilimnion, at depth <9 m, combined with (1) water circulation at depth <95 m and (2) CO₂ diffusion from the deeper lake layers. According to this model, Lake Albano was affected by a large CO₂ input that coincided with the last important seismic swarm at Alban Hills in 1989, suggesting an intimate relationship between the addition of deep-originated CO₂ to the lake and seismic activity. In the case of a CO₂ degassing event of an order of magnitude larger than the one that occurred in 1989, the deepest part of Lake Albano would become CO₂-saturated, resulting in conditions compatible with the occurrence of a gas outburst. These results reinforce the idea that a sudden CO₂ input into the lake may cause the release of a dense gas cloud, presently representing the major volcanic threat for this densely populated area.     

Comparison of two different equations of state for application of carbon dioxide sequestration

We suggest that different equations of state (EOS) algorithms can and frequently will provide very different predictions of CO₂ migration following injection for sequestration. Rather than carry out an exhaustive examination of all EOS algorithms available, we elected to evaluate this general hypothesis by making detailed comparisons of simulation results of two very common EOS algorithms. We simulated and compared CO₂ migration patterns using two fundamentally different EOS algorithms – Modified Redlich-Kwong EOS (MRKEOS) and Span and Wagner EOS (SWEOS). In general, the predictions of thermophysical properties for both algorithms are close, except for a contrast in the predicted fugacity coefficient of CO₂, which subsequently propagates to a contrast in predicted solubility in water/brine. Typically, MRKEOS underestimates solubility of CO₂ compared to both SWEOS and experimental solubility data. In simulations of CO₂ migration, dissolution rates of separate-phase CO₂ predicted from the two EOS algorithms were significantly different, even for small contrasts in predicted fluid properties from EOS algorithms, resulting in markedly different migration patterns.     

Cluster analysis of soil CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> data from Mt. Etna (Italy) reveals volcanic influences on temporal and spatial patterns of degassing

Soil CO₂ concentration data were collected periodically from July 2001 to June 2005 from sampling site grids in two areas located on the lower flanks of Mt. Etna volcano (Paternò and Zafferana Etnea–Santa Venerina). Cluster analysis was performed on the acquired data in order to identify possible groups of sites where soil degassing could be fed by different sources. In both areas three clusters were recognised, whose average CO₂ concentration values throughout the whole study period remained significantly different from one another. The clusters with the lowest CO₂ concentrations showed time-averaged values ranging from 980 to 1,170 ppm vol, whereas those with intermediate CO₂ concentrations showed time-averaged values ranging from 1,400 to 2,320 ppm vol, and those with the highest concentrations showed time-averaged values between 1,960 and 55,430 ppm vol. We attribute the lowest CO₂ concentrations largely to a biogenic source of CO₂. Conversely, the highest CO₂ concentrations are attributed to a magmatic source, whereas the intermediate values are due to a variable mixing of the two sources described above. The spatial distribution of the CO₂ values related to the magmatic source define a clear direction of anomalous degassing in the Zafferana Etnea–Santa Venerina area, which we attribute to the presence of a hidden fault, whereas in the Paternò area no such oriented anomalies were observed, probably because of the lower permeability of local soil. Time-series analysis shows that most of the variations observed in the soil CO₂ data from both areas were related to changes in the volcanic activity of Mt. Etna. Seasonal influences were only observed in the time patterns of the clusters characterised by low CO₂ concentrations, and no significant interdependence was found between soil CO₂ concentrations and meteorological parameters. The largest observed temporal anomalies are interpreted as release of CO₂ from magma batches that migrated from deeper to shallower portions of Etna’s feeder system. The pattern of occurrence of such episodes of anomalous gas release during the observation period was quite different between the two studied areas. This pattern highlighted an evident change in the mechanism of magma transport and storage within the volcano’s feeder system after June 2003, interpreted as magma accumulation into a shallow (<8 km depth) reservoir.     

有效压力与饱和度变化的气藏多波时移地震AVO响应

天然气在开发过程中,储层有效压力和含气饱和度均会发生变化,研究有效压力和含气饱和度的变化对地震响应特征的影响,在基于时移地震的剩余气分布预测研究中具有重要意义。天然气和石油的声学性质有着明显的差异,油藏时移地震的研究成果不能直接应用于气藏,因此需要开展气藏的时移地震研究。利用Shapiro模型表征干岩石弹性模量随有效压力的变化,借助Batzle-Wang方程描述流体速度随压力的变化关系,联合Gassmann理论进行流体替代,表征饱和流体岩石速度随含气饱和度的变化,建立了饱和流体岩石速度随有效压力和饱和度变化的岩石物理模型。基于该模型,对不同含气饱和度和不同有效压力下的气藏储层模型进行了多波时移地震叠前振幅变化（AVO）模拟。结果表明多波时移地震AVO技术可以有效地区分有效压力变化和含气饱和度变化,为进一步开展气藏多波时移地震流体监测提供了理论参考依据。     

Quantitative detection of fluid distribution using time-lapse seismic

Although previous seismic monitoring studies have revealed several relationships between seismic responses and changes in reservoir rock properties, the quantitative evaluation of time‐lapse seismic data remains a challenge. In most cases of time‐lapse seismic analysis, fluid and/or pressure changes are detected qualitatively by changes in amplitude strength, traveltime and/or Poisson's ratio. We present the steps for time‐lapse seismic analysis, considering the pressure effect and the saturation scale of fluids. We then demonstrate a deterministic workflow for computing the fluid saturation in a reservoir in order to evaluate time‐lapse seismic data. In this approach, we derive the physical properties of the water‐saturated sandstone reservoir, based on the following inputs: V_P, V_S, ρ and the shale volume from seismic analysis, the average properties of sand grains, and formation‐water properties. Next, by comparing the in‐situ fluid‐saturated properties with the 100% formation‐water‐saturated reservoir properties, we determine the bulk modulus and density of the in‐situ fluid. Solving three simultaneous equations (relating the saturations of water, oil and gas in terms of the bulk modulus, density and the total saturation), we compute the saturation of each fluid. We use a real time‐lapse seismic data set from an oilfield in the North Sea for a case study.     

Trend analysis using nonhomogeneous stochastic diffusion processes. Emission of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>; Kyoto protocol in Spain

In this study, we propose a methodology to analyse the gradual secular trends present in the time evolution of certain endogenous variables, which are of particular interest in environmental research. This methodology is based on modelling such variables by nonhomogeneous stochastic diffusion processes, the trend functions of which may be made to depend on other, exogenous, variables, which are controllable and which affect and model, in turn, the possible irregularities of such trends. The methodology is applied to analyse the evolution of the emission of CO₂ in Spain, and it is shown that the evolution of the Spanish GDP affects the trend component. These circumstances are considered in the context of Spain’s non-compliance with the Kyoto protocol on controlling the emission of greenhouse gases.     

Post‐stack stratigraphic inversion workflow applied to carbon dioxide storage: application to the saline aquifer of Sleipner field‡

In the Norwegian North Sea, the Sleipner field produces gas with a high CO₂ content. For environmental reasons, since 1996, more than 11 Mt of this carbon dioxide (CO₂) have been injected in the Utsira Sand saline aquifer located above the hydrocarbon reservoir. A series of seven 3D seismic surveys were recorded to monitor the CO₂ plume evolution. With this case study, time‐lapse seismics have been shown to be successful in mapping the spread of CO₂ over the past decade and to ensure the integrity of the overburden. Stratigraphic inversion of seismic data is currently used in the petroleum industry for quantitative reservoir characterization and enhanced oil recovery. Now it may also be used to evaluate the expansion of a CO₂ plume in an underground reservoir. The aim of this study is to estimate the P‐wave impedances via a Bayesian model‐based stratigraphic inversion. We have focused our study on the 1994 vintage before CO₂ injection and the 2006 vintage carried out after a CO₂ injection of 8.4 Mt. In spite of some difficulties due to the lack of time‐lapse well log data on the interest area, the full application of our inversion workflow allowed us to obtain, for the first time to our knowledge, 3D impedance cubes including the Utsira Sand. These results can be used to better characterize the spreading of CO₂ in a reservoir. With the post‐stack inversion workflow applied to CO₂ storage, we point out the importance of the a priori model and the issue to obtain coherent results between sequential inversions of different seismic vintages. The stacking velocity workflow that yields the migration model and the a priori model, specific to each vintage, can induce a slight inconsistency in the results.     

Rapid physically driven inversion of the air–sea ice CO2 flux in the seasonal landfast ice off Barrow,Alaska after onset of surface melt

The air–sea ice CO₂ flux was measured over landfast sea ice in the Chukchi Sea, off Barrow, Alaska in late May 2008 with a chamber technique. The ice cover transitioned from a cold early spring to a warm late spring state, with an increase in air temperature and incipient surface melt. During melt, brine salinity and brine dissolved inorganic carbon concentration (DIC) decreased from 67.3 to 18.7 and 3977.6 to 1163.5 μmol kg⁻¹, respectively. In contrast, the salinity and DIC of under-ice water at depths of 3 and 5 m below the ice surface remained almost constant with average values of 32.4±0.3 (standard deviation) and 2163.1±16.8 μmol kg⁻¹, respectively. The air–sea ice CO₂ flux decreased from +0.7 to −1.0 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹ (where a positive value indicates CO₂ being released to the atmosphere from the ice surface). During this early to late spring transition, brought on by surface melt, sea ice shifted from a source to a sink for atmospheric CO₂, with a rapid decrease of brine DIC likely associated with a decrease in the partial pressure of CO₂ of brine from a supersaturated to an undersaturated state compared to the atmosphere. Formation of superimposed ice coincident with melt was not sufficient to shut down ice–air gas exchange.     

Diffuse CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> degassing at Vesuvio,Italy

At Vesuvio, a significant fraction of the rising hydrothermal–volcanic fluids is subjected to a condensation and separation process producing a CO₂–rich gas phase, mainly expulsed through soil diffuse degassing from well defined areas called diffuse degassing structures (DDS), and a liquid phase that flows towards the outer part of the volcanic cone. A large amount of thermal energy is associated with the steam condensation process and subsequent cooling of the liquid phase. The total amount of volcanic–hydrothermal CO₂ discharged through diffuse degassing has been computed through a sequential Gaussian simulation (sGs) approach based on several hundred accumulation chamber measurements and, at the time of the survey, amounted to 151 t d^–1. The steam associated with the CO₂ output, computed assuming that the original H₂O/CO₂ ratio of hydrothermal fluids is preserved in fumarolic effluents, is 553 t d^–1, and the energy produced by the steam condensation and cooling of the liquid phase is 1.47×10¹² J d^–1 (17 MW). The location of the CO₂ and temperature anomalies show that most of the gas is discharged from the inner part of the crater and suggests that crater morphology and local stratigraphy exert strong control on CO₂ degassing and subsurface steam condensation. The amounts of gas and energy released by Vesuvio are comparable to those released by other volcanic degassing areas of the world and their estimates, through periodic surveys of soil CO₂ flux, can constitute a useful tool to monitor volcanic activity.Editorial responsibility: H. Shinohara     

Repeatability analysis of land time‐lapse seismic data: CO2CRC Otway pilot project case study

Time‐lapse seismics is the methodology of choice for remotely monitoring changes in oil/gas reservoir depletion, reservoir stimulation or CO₂ sequestration, due to good sensitivity and resolving power at depths up to several kilometres. This method is now routinely applied offshore, however, the use of time‐lapse methodology onshore is relatively rare. The main reason for this is the relatively high cost of commercial seismic acquisition on land. A widespread belief of a relatively poor repeatability of land seismic data prevents rapid growth in the number of land time‐lapse surveys. Considering that CO₂ sequestration on land is becoming a necessity, there is a great need to evaluate the feasibility of time‐lapse seismics for monitoring. Therefore, an understanding of the factors influencing repeatability of land seismics and evaluating limitations of the method is crucially important for its application in many CO₂ sequestration projects. We analyse several repeated 2D and 3D surveys acquired within the Otway CO₂ sequestration pilot project (operated by the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Technologies, CO2CRC) in Australia, in order to determine the principal limitations of land time‐lapse seismic repeatability and investigate the influence of the main factors affecting it. Our findings are that the intrinsic signal‐to‐noise ratio (S/N, signal to coherent and background noise levels) and the normalized‐root‐mean‐square (NRMS) difference are controlled by the source strength and source type. However, the post‐stack S/N ratio and corresponding NRMS residuals are controlled mainly by the data fold. For very high‐fold data, the source strength and source type are less critical.     

Uncertainty analysis of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> flux components in subtropical evergreen coniferous plantation

We present an uncertainty analysis of ecological process parameters and CO₂ flux components (R _eco, NEE and gross ecosystem exchange (GEE)) derived from 3 years’ continuous eddy covariance measurements of CO₂ fluxes at subtropical evergreen coniferous plantation, Qianyanzhou of ChinaFlux. Daily-differencing approach was used to analyze the random error of CO₂ fluxes measurements and bootstrapping method was used to quantify the uncertainties of three CO₂ flux components. In addition, we evaluated different models and optimization methods in influencing estimation of key parameters and CO₂ flux components. The results show that: (1) Random flux error more closely follows a double-exponential (Laplace), rather than a normal (Gaussian) distribution. (2) Different optimization methods result in different estimates of model parameters. Uncertainties of parameters estimated by the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) are lower than those derived from ordinary least square method (OLS). (3) The differences between simulated R_eco, NEE and GEE derived from MLE and those derived from OLS are 12.18% (176 g C·m⁻²·a⁻¹), 34.33% (79 g C·m⁻²·a⁻¹) and 5.4% (92 g C·m⁻²·a⁻¹). However, for a given parameter optimization method, a temperature-dependent model (T_model) and the models derived from a temperature and water-dependent model (TW_model) are 1.31% (17.8 g C·m⁻²·a⁻¹), 2.1% (5.7 g C·m⁻²·a⁻¹), and 0.26% (4.3 g C·m⁻²·a⁻¹), respectively, which suggested that the optimization methods are more important than the ecological models in influencing uncertainty in estimated carbon fluxes. (4) The relative uncertainty of CO₂ flux derived from OLS is higher than that from MLE, and the uncertainty is related to timescale, that is, the larger the timescale, the smaller the uncertainty. The relative uncertainties of R_eco, NEE and GEE are 4%−8%, 7%−22% and 2%−4% respectively at annual timescale. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30570347), Innovative Research International Partnership Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. CXTD-Z2005-1) and National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2002CB412502)     

Numerical modeling of formation damage by two-phase particulate transport processes during CO2 injection in deep heterogeneous porous media

Prediction of CO₂ injection performance in deep subsurface porous media relies on the ability of the well to maintain high flow rates of carbon dioxide during several decades typically without fracturing the host formation or damaging the well. Dynamics of solid particulate suspensions in permeable media are recognized as one major factor leading to injection well plugging in sandstones. The invading supercritical liquid-like fluid can contain exogenous fine suspensions or endogenous particles generated in situ by physical and chemical interactions or hydrodynamic release mechanisms. Suspended solids can plug the pores possibly leading to formation damage and permeability reduction in the vicinity of the injector. In this study we developed a finite volume simulator to predict the injectivity decline near CO₂ injection wells and also for production wells in the context of enhanced oil recovery. The numerical model solves a system of two coupled sets of finite volume equations corresponding to the pressure-saturation two-phase flow, and a second subsystem of solute and particle convection-diffusion equations. Particle transport equations are subject to mechanistic rate laws of colloidal, hydrodynamic release from pore surfaces, blocking in pore bodies and pore throats, and interphase particle transfer. The model was validated against available laboratory experiments at the core scale. Example results reveal that lower CO₂ residual saturation and formation porosity enhance CO₂-wet particle mobility and clogging around sinks and production wells. We conclude from more realistic simulations with heterogeneous permeability spanning several orders of magnitude that the control mode of mobilization, capture of particles, and permeability reduction processes strongly depends on the type of permeability distribution and connectivity between injection and production wells.     

AVA seismic reflectivity analysis in carbon dioxide accumulations: Sensitivity to CO2 phase and saturation

Seismic monitoring of sequestered carbon dioxide (CO₂) in underground deposits is a matter of growing importance. The subsurface monitoring of this greenhouse gas is possible due to the marked contrast between the physical properties of natural reservoir fluids and those of carbon dioxide after the injection. This technique makes necessary the investigation of appropriate seismic indicators to link seismic attributes to petrophysical properties, composition and state of the rock as well as pore-fluid type and in-situ physical conditions. With this motivation in mind, we use a Biot–Gassmann formulation to model the theoretical P-wave amplitude reflection coefficients vs. angle of incidence in the seismic range when a planar P-wave strikes the interface between a caprock and a porous sandstone which has its pore space saturated by a mixture of CO₂ with brine or oil at different states (supercritical, liquid and gas). The effects of dissolution of CO₂ in oil and the existence of a saturation threshold, above which a free CO₂ phase develops, are included in the computations. Attention is particularly focused on the sensitivity of the classic best-fit amplitude variations with angle coefficients, to different degrees of CO₂ saturation. We conclude from this analysis that the changes in seismic AVA attributes between 30 and 40 degrees can be useful to infer bounds on the CO₂ saturation degree, to detect the presence of immiscible CO₂ phase and, in some cases, to infer the physical state of the accumulations.