Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in Low Porosity and Permeability Deep Saline Aquifer: Numerical Simulation Method
Authors: Mwakipunda Grant Charles , Ngata Mbega Ramadhani , Mgimba Melckzedeck Michael , Yu Long 
Published: January 2023

The saline aquifer is the most reliable place where anthropogenic carbon dioxide gas storage has shown a promising future. This paper evaluates and predicts the capacities of different carbon dioxide storage trapping mechanisms in storing carbon dioxide gas in low porosity and permeability deep saline aquifers by using commercial reservoir simulator software i.e., Computer modeling group (CMG). Four carbon dioxide storage trapping modeled and simulated were structural or stratigraphic trapping mechanisms, residual trapping mechanisms, solubility trapping mechanisms, and mineral trapping mechanisms. Carbon dioxide gas was injected into a deep saline aquifer for 15 years, followed by 833 years of post-injection. To reflect the real field reality and have a reasonable approximation of the amount of carbon dioxide which can be stored in an aquifer, this paper included water vaporization effects that occur during carbon dioxide injection and water injection operations so as to optimize residual and solubility trapping mechanisms as the most important trapping mechanisms. Furthermore, the effects of different important parameters such as salinity, vertical-to-horizontal permeability ratio, injection rate, bottom hole pressure, and temperature on each carbon dioxide trapping mechanism were analyzed. Results revealed that each carbon dioxide trapping mechanism has a different capacity for storing carbon dioxide and could be either affected linearly or nonlinearly with various parameters. Higher aquifer temperatures are not recommended for carbon dioxide storage because most of the carbon dioxide gas is stored as free gas, which increases the risk of leakage in case of mechanical failure or imbalance. Excess salinity is the only factor that reduces aquifer storage capacity. Furthermore, it was found that an aquifer with a lower vertical-to-horizontal permeability ratio is recommended for carbon dioxide storage because it increases carbon dioxide stored in an immobile phase, which avoids risk leakages. There was an increase of 43.2% and a decrease of 16.84% for minimum and maximum vertical-to-horizontal permeability (kv/kh) ratios, respectively, compared to the base for residual trapping mechanisms. Also, there was a decrease of carbon dioxide dissolved by 19% at maximum kv/kh ratios and an increase of 58% at minimum kv/kh ratios, compared to the base case. Further, there was an increase of carbon dioxide trapped by 96.4% and dissolved by 97% when water was injected at a higher rate compared to the base case (no water injection). Thus, a high injection rate is suggested to enhance residual and solubility trapping mechanisms. It is recommended that the carbon dioxide injection rate and bottom hole pressure be kept at optimal levels to avoid mechanical failure due to aquifer pressures building up, which can increase the risk of leakages and must be monitored and controlled at the surface using pressure gauges or sensor technology.