Numerical investigation of CO2 solubility trapping mechanisms for enhanced storage in saline aquifers

Abstract

Geological Carbon Storage (GCS) faces significant challenges related to the potential leakage of CO₂ through cap rocks, posing risks of contamination to drinking resources and disruption to various ecosystems. Therefore, it is essential to develop and implement optimal injection strategies to minimize CO₂ escape from the formation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of three distinct CO₂ injection strategies in complex saline aquifers: pure supercritical CO₂ (SC-CO₂), carbonated water (CW), and Water-Alternating-Gas (WAG). The results demonstrate that SC-CO₂ injection primarily relies on structural trapping, complemented by residual trapping and a minor contribution from solubility trapping. In contrast, CW injection significantly enhances solubility trapping to nearly complete levels, while structural and residual trapping are minimized. On the other hand, WAG injection strategies, characterized by varying cycle frequencies, exhibit a balanced trapping profile, with solubility trapping progressively increasing while maintaining structural and residual mechanisms to support overall storage. Previous studies have shown that SC-CO₂ injection efficiently fills pore spaces and displaces resident brine within the storage formation. However, the buoyant nature of CO₂ remains a challenge to secure long-term storage efficiency. CW injection emerges as a promising alternative by leveraging the solubility of CO₂ in resident brine. Dissolving CO₂ in water prior to injection mitigates gravity segregation between brine and CO₂, thereby improving volumetric sweeping efficiency within the formation. Additionally, WAG injection offers potential benefits by dynamically alternating SC-CO₂ and water phases to enhance trapping and immobilization. Nevertheless, both CW and WAG injection strategies face challenges related to operational costs. CW injection requires a substantial volume of water to dissolve CO₂, while WAG injection demands meticulous monitoring and precise control, resulting in increased energy consumption-particularly when highly compressed CO₂ is needed. These factors collectively contribute to the elevated cost of CW and WAG injection strategies, highlighting the need for further optimization to enhance their economic viability.

Document Type: Original article

Cited as:

Tariq, Z., Estrada, J. K. P., Yan, B., Xu, J. Numerical investigation of CO₂ solubility trapping mechanisms for enhanced storage in saline aquifers. Computational Energy Science, 2024, 1(4): 175-187. https://doi.org/10.46690/compes.2024.04.03

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