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Dr. Ron Falta Clemson University Research Experience in Carbon Sequestration (RECS) June 8, 2011

What do we mean by flow modeling ?

These are predictive simulations based on laws of physics Apply conservation of mass to a control volume to derive mass balance equations Use empirical laws that relate fluxes to gradients (Darcy s law) to get governing equations Solve the governing equations (somehow) to get mathematical model

Input file(s)

Mathematical Model (computer program)

Output file(s)

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Mathematical simulation will play an important role in geologic CO2 storage operations
Modeling is likely to be required by regulations to show CO2 storage security Modeling is likely to be used to assess the potential area of CO2 and pressure impact from storage operations, and to help choose locations Modeling will be used to optimize designs and operations at future sites

General Types of Models

Multiphase flow models for CO2 and brine movement Single phase flow models for brine movement/ pressure field

3-D compositional nonisothermal numerical models with full relative permeability and capillary pressure effects

2-D simplified sharp interface analytical and numerical models with leaky wells

3-D numerical groundwater flow models; possibly variable density, heterogeneous

1-D and 2-D analytical and simple numerical groundwater flow models, homogeneous

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Multiphase Flow Modeling: Key Points about CO2 behavior in subsurface

The CO2 forms a separate phase from water similar to LNAPLs and DNAPLs in groundwater systems, or oil and water in petroleum reservoirs The CO2 is less dense than water (LNAPL), and it is much less viscous than water (more like a gas) Strong surface tension between water and CO2 phase capillary trapping in large pores is important High solubility in brine Eventually can react to form minerals

What happens to the CO2?

Stratigraphic trapping supercritical CO2 trapped by confining layers Residual CO2 trapping supercritical CO2 is locally trapped by capillary forces Solubility trapping CO2 dissolves in pore water (up to 60 g/l) Mineral trapping CO2 reacts to form solid minerals (carbonates)

IPCC, 2005

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Stratigraphic Trapping

CO2 is less dense than brine (~700 kg/m3) Caprock must have low permeability and high capillary entry pressure, no defects This CO2 is mobile

From Chabora and Benson, 2008

Residual (capillary) trapping

Isolated CO2 blobs are practically immobile due to capillary forces Trapped amount depends on the history (hysteretic trapping) If large amounts of CO2 are forced into the pore space, large amounts are trapped (~25% or more) If only small amounts of CO2 move through the pore space, small amounts are trapped (~ 1 to 5%)

CO2 phase injection - CO2 is mobile

As water invades, CO2 snaps off and becomes trapped

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Solubility Trapping (dissolution)

Eventually all of the CO2 will dissolve Process can be accelerated by engineering designs Brine with dissolved CO2 is more dense than resident brine But-CO2 can come back out of solution if brine is depressurized

CO2 Solubility
60.00 50.00 l 40.00 / g , y t i 30.00 l i b u l o S 20.00 10.00 0.00 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 Depth, feet

Calculated using the Lawrence Berkeley Lab TOUGH2-ECO2N code assuming 35o C and 10,000 mg/l NaCl

Types of Models: Compositional Multiphase Flow

Similar to petroleum reservoir models Capable of 2-phase (brine/ CO2) flow with CO2 dissolution 3D, fully heterogeneous, nonisothermal Computationally intensive (may need to run on parallel supercomputers) Examples: LBNL TOUGH2-ECO2N; CMG GEM; Schlumberger ECLIPSE

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Example: Ruprecht et al. (2011) study of sweep efficiency

Multiphase flow numerical simulations to compare supercritical vs dissolved CO2 injection Equal amounts of CO2 injected in each case, but dissolved case has large water volume injected Inject 200,000 tons CO2 per year for 20 years Equivalent to ~23 MW coal fired electricity production 200 m thick storage formation

Heterogeneous permeability distribution

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Supercritical CO2 plume at 20 and 100 years

Dissolved CO2 plume at 20 and 100 years

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Example: Zhou et al., 2010 study of Illinois Basin

Full scale multiphase flow model of 100 Mt per year CO2 injection into Mt. Simon Sandstone Equivalent to CO2 emissons from 11.5 GW coal fired electrical production Model covers the entire Illinois Basin (~400 miles across), but includes individual injection locations

From Zhou et al., 2010

Model is highly refined around injection locations

From Zhou et al., 2010

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Simulated CO2 distribution around one of the injection locations

From Zhou et al., 2010

Larger scale, showing entire injection field (one layer of model)

From Zhou et al., 2010

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Simulated pressure build-up

From Zhou et al., 2010

Types of Models: Sharp Interface 2-D models

More idealized models used for scoping calculations, risk assessment, regional modeling Normally assume homogeneous conditions, simpler geometry Can incorporate multiple leaky wells, layered geology (Nordbotten et al., 2009; Celia and Nordbotten, 2009) You will run these later today

From Nordbotten et al., 2005

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Sharp Interface vs Compositional Multiphase models

Sharp interface models are much more efficient computationally, and easier to use They can resolve key CO2 flow effects around local features (abandoned wells) They can be linked with various numerical and analytical submodels to extend capability

They do not account for hysteretic relative permeability effects They do not include capillary barrier effects They neglect CO2 dissolution, diffusion and reactions They are isothermal Local heterogeneity is not included

Single Phase Flow Modeling: Key Points

Hydraulic pressure disturbance from CO2 injection will extend for many miles beyond the CO2 plume High pressures could force brines up into drinking water aquifers through faults, abandoned wells, or poor confining layers Dissolved CO2 could also move by these mechanisms The water may have variable density due to mixing of brine and fresh water, or due to presence of dissolved CO2

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Types of Models: Groundwater Flow

The same as used in typical groundwater studies; used to evaluate pressure response and movement of brine Single phase water flow; may include salinity and density driven flow (not usually) 3D, fully heterogeneous Numerically efficient, run on PC in most cases Examples: USGS MODFLOW; MODFLOWSEAWAT; various GUI

From http://www.ems-i.com/GMS/gms_quicktour_frameset.html

Example: J.P. Nicot (2008) simulation of largescale CO2 storage in Texas Gulf Coast Basin

Full scale 3-D model of Texas Gulf Coast Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer system Simulates injection of 50-250 Mt CO2 per year (using equivalent volume water injection) Rate corresponds to ~6-30 GW electrical power from coal fired plants

Storage Formation

From Nicot (2008)

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Model design

From Nicot (2008) Hydraulic conductivity

Simsboro Formation thickness

Storativity/Specific yield

Head build-up after 50 years

Simsboro

From Nicot (2008)

Carrizo

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Particle tracking for 250 Mt/yr case (salinity); 50 Mt/yr (CO2 plume front), t=50yrs

From Nicot (2008)

Types of Groundwater Models: Simplified Analytical models

Some useful calculations of pressure and flow can be made using traditional groundwater solutions for single phase flow near a well Analytical groundwater flow models (eg. Hantush, 1960; Theis, 1935) Formation/well conductance models

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Example: Brine flow in an abandoned well (Ellison et al., 2011)

Assume that an open well bore connects a deep saline formation with a shallow drinking water aquifer Evaluate rate of brine movement up well if deep formation is overpressured

a)

b)

Figure 5.1: a) arrows indicate the direc6on of ow in the analy6cal model. b) Drawing showing the variables used in the analy6cal model.

Analytical model

Steady-state flow radial flow in (hs ha ) Q= formations rw r ln w r ln rs l Assume Darcy law + + a 2 for well-flow (similar 2 bs K s rw K w 2 ba K a model for pipe flow in well) Flow is a function of overall conductance; may be dominated by either formation or well properties

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Water leakage rate is limited by well unless it is completely open!

Lower formation over pressured by 200 m head Formations are separated by 1000m; 8 inch wellbore Formation k= 1 Darcy (DWA) and 0.1 Darcy (storage formation)

Example: simple model of regional pressure buildup

Homogeneous steady-state model of injection using Hantush leakage approximation Rectangular domain with no-flow boundaries T Inject equivalent volume as Zhou et al. 2010 model

Storage formation: 400m thick, k=200 mD Caprock: 100m thick, k=3 uD

2 h 2 h K x 2 + y 2 + b (hsource h) = 0

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Solve with FDM on coarse grid

Frame 001 10 Mar 2011

500
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150 20 0 250

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h 350 300 250 200 150 100 80 60 40 20 10 2

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Modeling Summary
Many

opportunities for different kinds of modeling Detailed 3-D multiphase flow modeling of CO2 injection and migration Sharp Interface models for regional multiaquifer systems with leaking wells Detailed 3-D groundwater flow modeling at a regional scale Various screening level calculations to understand dominant effects

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Acknowledgement
834383

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

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