Analysis of CO2 Storage Capacity in Saline Aquifer and Geological Traps Using Reservoir Simulation Approach

Sequestration is considered one of the most effective methods for reducing atmospheric emissions by storing carbon dioxide underground for extended periods. The emissions of carbon dioxide, especially from industrial processes like power generation, refineries, cement plants, and steel production, have been steadily increasing. Each year, power plants release millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. While carbon sequestration is a promising solution, there's a need for further research to better comprehend the geological conditions of water-saturated sandstone formations and the shale layers acting as flow barriers. This research aims to assess the impact of geological structures, water properties, reservoir flow characteristics, and seal formation properties. To achieve this, a workflow has been developed using the CO2-lab module of MRST (Matlab Reservoir Simulation Toolbox). MRST is employed to model the injection of carbon dioxide into aquifer formations and to study gas trapping mechanisms such as residual gas saturation, structural trapping, and stratigraphic trapping. Through modeling and simulation of the ZH8NG field in China, it was determined that the total carbon dioxide storage capacity in this field is 160 mega tons. A substantial amount of carbon dioxide is found as part of a free plume, while some remains as residual gas in the plume. This study provides valuable insights into estimating storage capacity for carbon dioxide capture and sequestration.