Advanced Characterization of Unconventional Oil and Gas Reservoirs to Enhance CO2 Storage Resource Estimates
Although significant progress has been made globally to investigate the suitability of subsurface geologic sinks for CO2 storage, there is a lack of detailed geologic data needed to develop improved volumetric equations for assessing CO2 storage resources of unconventional formations. A key challenge in estimating the various parameters that affect CO2 storage in unconventional formations is that the analytical techniques and instrumentation used to evaluate conventional reservoirs are often limited or even unsuitable when applied to shales and other tight rocks. To improve our understanding of the key geologic factors that influence CO2 storage resource estimates in unconventional formations and to better define the efficiency factors associated with each key parameter, the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) recently began a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory and Hitachi High Technologies to develop analytical techniques to better understand and quantify the distribution of clay minerals, organics, porosity, and fracture characteristics in representative shale and tight rock samples. This effort, which is funded through the EERCDOE Joint Program on Research and Development for Fossil Energy-Related Resources, will involve applying advanced image analysis techniques to imagery collected of unconventional rock samples using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). A key goal of this project iView/Download Document
Event/Meeting Information
Mastering the Subsurface through Technology Innovation & Collaboration: Carbon Storage & Oil & Natural Gas Technologies Review Meeting
8/16/2016
Pittsburgh, PA