IEAGHG Investigation of Extraction of Formation Water from CO2 Storage
The EERC has conducted an analysis of formation water extraction from carbon dioxide (CO2) storage reservoirs under joint sponsorship from the IEA Greenhouse Gas (IEAGHG) R&D Programme and the U.S. Department of Energy. The concept of extracting saline waters from reservoirs has been proposed as a means of managing storage formation pressures, increasing reservoir storage capacity, controlling CO2 plumes, and controlling migration of displaced formation water. The practice may also provide water that can be put to a beneficial use such as geothermal energy recovery from high-temperature extracted waters or the supply of potable water where treatment can be performed at reasonable cost. The current state of knowledge on the potential impacts of water extraction on CO2 storage capacity and plume migration is somewhat limited. Site-specific geological and project design factors can all impact the benefits derived from water extraction. Formation water characteristics will influence the potential for beneficial use of the water. In order to address these issues on a global basis, the project was designed to investigate water extraction under a wide variety of conditions. The work included a survey of geological and water quality conditions of deep saline aquifers (DSAs); selection of four case study sites representing a wide range of these geologic and water quality conditions; and a study of the impacts of formation water extraction on CO2 storage and the potential for the beneficial use of extracted water at these sites. The four case study sites were the Ketzin site in Germany; the Zama Field in Canada; the Gorgon project area in Australia; and the Teapot Dome Field in the United States. Reservoir-scale dynamic simulations were conducted to investigate the impact that formation water extraction could have on storage capacity and reservoir management and to determine effective water extraction rates for those purposes. Simulations included control studies with no water extraction, water extraction designed to increase storage capacity, and water extraction designed to manage reservoir pressure and the direction of plume migration.View/Download Document
Event/Meeting Information
11th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies
11/18/2012
Kyoto,