Computational Computational Modeling of Carbon Modeling of Carbon

Dioxide in Saline Dioxide in Saline ReservoirsReservoirs

Caitlin M. AugustinCaitlin M. Augustin

Peter K. SwartPeter K. Swart

Timothy H. DixonTimothy H. Dixon

Augustin et al., 2010

Carbon Capture and Carbon Capture and SequestrationSequestration

CCS is a method CCS is a method of capturing of capturing carbon dioxide carbon dioxide from large point from large point sources and sources and storing it in such storing it in such a way that it a way that it never enters the never enters the atmosphereatmosphere

Augustin et al., 2010

Farnham Dome, Utah Injection Site/ NETL

Carbon Capture and Carbon Capture and SequestrationSequestration

There are three major outcomes of There are three major outcomes of carbon sequestration in reservoirscarbon sequestration in reservoirs

1.1. Deformation, fracture and leakage Deformation, fracture and leakage on the surfaceon the surface

2.2. Viscous fingering and negative Viscous fingering and negative downward migrationdownward migration

3.3. Stable sequestration within Stable sequestration within reservoir (no leakage, no reservoir (no leakage, no migration)migration)

Augustin et al., 2010

Why Modeling?Why Modeling?

• Replicate the existing Replicate the existing conditions in reservoirs conditions in reservoirs conditioned and de-conditioned and de-stressed by prior extraction stressed by prior extraction of oil, water or gasof oil, water or gas

• Understand the Understand the geomechanical effects of geomechanical effects of injection of the fluid into injection of the fluid into reservoirs and other reservoirs and other storage environmentsstorage environments

• Guarantee with very high Guarantee with very high levels of certainty that COlevels of certainty that CO2 2

will never escapewill never escape

Augustin et al., 2010

Discrete Element MethodDiscrete Element Method• Detailed visualization ofDetailed visualization of

• explicit time steppingexplicit time stepping• changes in forces and velocities changes in forces and velocities

of individual particles of individual particles • post-injection outcomespost-injection outcomes

• It is particularly useful for It is particularly useful for modeling forces, particle modeling forces, particle reactions, and flowreactions, and flow

• DEM has been used by DEM has been used by scientists focused on micro-scientists focused on micro-level events (e.g. pore fluid level events (e.g. pore fluid displacement, molecular displacement, molecular reactions)reactions)• Commercial software includes: Commercial software includes:

TOUGH/TOUGHREACT, Xtools, TOUGH/TOUGHREACT, Xtools, Geochemists’ WorkbenchGeochemists’ Workbench

Augustin et al., 2010

Finite Element MethodFinite Element Method Detailed visualization of Detailed visualization of

where structures bend or where structures bend or twisttwist

indicates the distribution of indicates the distribution of stressesstresses

Displacements of volumeDisplacements of volume It is particularly useful for It is particularly useful for

modeling the geophysical modeling the geophysical effects of CCSeffects of CCS

FEM has been used FEM has been used primarily by scientists primarily by scientists focused on macro-level focused on macro-level events (e.g. surface events (e.g. surface deformation, stress deformation, stress fracturing of the seal)fracturing of the seal) Commercial software Commercial software

includes SolidWorks, includes SolidWorks, GTectin, etc.GTectin, etc.

Augustin et al., 2010

University of Miami University of Miami ProjectProject

• We hypothesis that a We hypothesis that a integrated model is vital integrated model is vital to accurately understand to accurately understand the sequestration the sequestration environment. environment. • Ground deformation signalGround deformation signal• Poroelastic behavior of Poroelastic behavior of

rocksrocks

• We will originate a code We will originate a code dedicated to modeling dedicated to modeling the impact of the micro-the impact of the micro-level reactions on the level reactions on the entire systementire system

Augustin et al., 2010

Core-Level Experiments-steady state core flood experiments that

replicate reservoir injection-provide deeper understanding of

field observations-generates parameters for numerical models

Field ObservationsProvide data on: Seismic, GPS,

InSAR, geochemical composition, geology of region

-Validates numerical models-provides data for laboratory experiments

Numerical Models-Replicate field observations-Use as input parameters data generated from laboratory core-level experiments-Originate code

Further ApplicationsFurther Applications Subsurface fluid Subsurface fluid

flowflow Deep injection of Deep injection of

solid wastesolid waste Nuclear waste Nuclear waste

storagestorage

Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide emissions policyemissions policy

Carbon Capture Carbon Capture and Storage and Storage industry industry standardsstandards

Augustin et al., 2010