Research and Development
onAquifer Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Japan

February 20, 2006

Takashi Ohsumi
RITE（Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth）

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

BackgroundJAPANWORLD

Potential Estimate for World:

E. Lindberg (late 80’s): CO2EOR regarded asstorage

Tanaka(1991): CO2 utilization potential in
EOR
Koide(1992): Aquifer storage potential

Potential Estimate for Japan:
examined in 1993, andpublished by Tanaka et al. (1995)

B. Hitchon (early 90’s): proposed a conceptof Aquifer Disposal Storage

STATOIL (1996) launchedSleipner ProjectRITE’s NAGAOKA project started
at NAGAOKA in 2000; actualinjection from 2003 until 2005

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

R&D on the underground sequestration ofCO2 started in 2000, operated byMETI
METI
RITE
RITE
25 MUSD until 2005
SEC
(Safety & Environmental Center
For Petroleum Development)- field injection test

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

in-house study
CO2 Seq. Res. G- laboratory experiment
System Res. G.
- LCA, risk analysis,
public acceptance,..

Nagaoka site
onsite surface facilities

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Nagaoka sitestorage tank ( 90 m3) and lorry

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

target aquifer
horizontal grid size:- 25m×25m in fine grid
- 50m×50m / 200m×200m in coarse gridInternational Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

observation wells
injection well
15oInternational Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

No.4 1095m - 1100m

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

geophysical monitoring of CO2
sequestration
logging
CO2-4 Formation Pressure & Temperatureformation dip: 15°60m

Injection Welllogging

40m
CO2-2120m

CO2-3logging

CO2-1hypargomot
ismicesllewsscro

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

result of the MS-2 (2nd monitoring survey)
Maximum change-3.5% (Vp)

Result of the MS-2

V/Vo (%)

velocity changeInternational Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

CO2-2 Vp (Sonic)

1234International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

CO2-2 (Induction & Neutron)

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Injection Rate

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Injection Rate (tonne/day)Pressure (MPa)The CO2 Injection Pressure

The Reservoir Formation Pressure
at the observation well CO2-4

Estimation of CO2 Aquifer Storage Potentialin JAPANIntroduction
The technical feasibility of CO2 storage in aquifer has been proven anddemonstrated by the successful experiences in numerous EOR projects andthe commercial practice in Sleipner.
Previously, Tanaka et al. (1995) had estimated the aquifer storage capacities
as 91.5 B tonnes in Japan.
Encouraged by these facts, Japan had started a 5-year national R&D programof “Underground Storage of Carbon Dioxide (NAGAOKA project is a main partof this program)” to consider the effectiveness of geological storage in Japan.
Since 2005, this project comes into an extra 3-year follow-up phase forselecting a few preferable storage sites as candidates for large-scaledemonstration tests in the next phase and for commercial implementations inthe near future. As a part of these efforts, the re-estimation of CO2 aquifer
storage capacities was also performed.
International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Storage Sites :Locations of Sedimentary Basins in JapanJapan has a large area of sedimentary basins distributed surrounding
the archipelago.
Oil, gas and condensate reservoirs are relevant locations to consider
for CO2 storage because their proven geologic seal that trappedhydrocarbons over a geologic timescale and the acquired various kindsof geologic information.
Deep saline formations, which are more common in Japan’s geologicalsettings are the first alternatives. They are believed to constitute alarge potential storage capacity. However, they usually are much lesscharacterized than reservoirs examined so far by oil & gas industries.

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Storage Sites :Locations of Sedimentary Basins in Japan-Formation Thickness(>800m)-Water Depth (<1,000m)

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Storage Sites :Locations of CO2 Emission Source in Japan

Thermal Power Station
Cement Factory
Refinery
IronworkTokyo
Large-Scale CO2 Emission Zone

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Geological Storage Concept
Structural Traps: A

Monoclinal Structures: B

Oil&GasFieldsA1

B1

DrilledStructures

A2

UndrilledStructures

Trap
Mechanism

B2
A3
Physical TrappingPhysical/Residual Trapping

Primary : Super Critical CO2
Secondary: Dissolution CO2

Primary : Super Critical CO2 (Residual)
Secondary: Dissolution CO2

Actual storage

Huge potential in the near future.

StorageConceptCapacity

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Storage Capacity: Calculation of CO2 Storage Capacity

C = Ef x A x h x φ x Sg /Bg xρ
CEfA
hφSg
Bg
ρ: Storage Capacity: Sweep Efficiency (50% for A, 25% for B): Area: Average Effective Thickness: Average Porosity: CO2 Saturation (50%): CO2 Volume Factor: Density of CO2 under 0℃ and 1atm

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Storage Capacity: Calculation Concept of CO2 Storage Capacity

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

Storage Capacity: Estimated CO2 Storage Capacity
A1
3,492MMtons
2%

A2

5,202MMtons
4%

A3
21,393MMtons
15%

Total: 146,096MMt

B2

A: 30,087 MMtons
B:116,009 MMtons

88,477MMtons
60%

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

B1
27,532MMtons
19%

Results: CO2 Storage Capacities
Tanaka et al (1995)
Categories
IThis Paper (2006)

Definitions

CapacityCategories

Definitions

Capacity

Oil &Gas Reservoir

2.0

A1

Oil &Gas Reservoir

3.5

A2

Drilled Structural Traps

5.2

A3

Undrilled Structural Traps

21.4

A
IIIII
IV

Drilled Anticlinal Structures

Monoclinal Structures(onshore gas dissolved fields)
Monoclinal structures
Offshore(WD <200m)
Total

1.5

16.0

B1
B

72.0
91.5

(in billion tonnes)

International Workshop on CO２ Geological Storage , Japan ‘06

B2

Monoclinal Structures(onshore gas dissolved fields)
Monoclinal Structures
Offshore (WD <200m)
Total

27.5
88.5
146.1

(in billion tonnes)