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CO2 plume behaviour in a reservoir (EC035)
Course Summary
In this course we will explore how a plume of CO2 spreads from an injection well, and sweeps through a saline aquifer, assessing the fraction of the pore space accessed by the CO2 and the rate of dissolution of the CO2 into the formation brine.
Additionally, we will explore the controls on the migration of a plume of CO2 in the post-injection phase, in order to assess how far the CO2 will spread until it either becomes (i) capillary trapped in the pore spaces, (ii) trapped in a structural high of the formation, or (iii) dissolved in the formation brine
We will also develop simplified models to assess these different controls on the CO2 plume, in terms of the buoyancy-controlled flow of the plume and the rate of transition between different trapping processes. This information is invaluable for helping to assure regulators about the long-term security of storage, through helping to demonstrate the controls and processes that impact this long-term fate of the CO2 in the storage system.
This course is aimed at subsurface oil and gas professionals who are familiar with the basic concepts of CCS.
Available H2 2023
Course Details
Course duration and training method
Courses are accessed on the RPS Learning Hub, each course consists of a series of modules of up to 90 minutes learning time, including self-assessment elements. Learning materials are structured into short sections, each including interactive text and image content, animations, video and audio. An end of course quiz is scored to provide the learner with their learning progress.
Course Duration: 5 Hours
Learning outcomes
Participants will learn to:
- Explain the physics of CO2 plume development and movement in a saline aquifer.
- Analyse the various trapping processes of CO2 to inform storage security.
- Develop simple numerical models to quantify these processes.
- Illustrate how model predictions depend on the geological structure of the formation under study.
- Examine the balance between pressure and buoyancy driven flow of CO2.
- Assess the fraction of pore space where brine is displaced by CO2 and the rate of dissolution of the CO2 into the brine during the injection process.
Course content
Controls on the flow, sweep and dissolution of a CO2 plume in a saline aquifer
- Sweep, flow, viscous fingering, and fractional flow
- Dependency of model predictions on the geological structure of the formation
- The balance between pressure and buoyancy driven flow of CO2
- Quantification of vertical and lateral structure of a CO2 plume and the fraction swept with CO2
- Flow in a layered formation in which the CO2 front advances at different rates
- Using the provided numerical model, explore the controls on the CO2 plume motion and assess swept volume
- Filling an anticline with CO2 (Sleipner case)
- The process of dissolution as a function of the geological structure
Post-injection migration of a CO2 plume and controls on capillary trapping
- Controls on the migration of a plume of CO2 in the post-injection phase
- Assess how far the CO2 will spread until it either becomes
- capillary trapped in the pore spaces
- trapped in a structural high of the formation
- dissolved in the formation brine
- Model of capillary trapping and the connection with dissolution
- Faulting and asymmetric plume development
- Long term dissolution and the impact on water saturation monitoring
- Understand long-term security of storage as assurance to regulators
- Simple numerical model to quantify these processes
- Problem-solving session