Storing CO2 in depleted reservoirs

Carbon Management Canada (CMC) is developing new solutions to inject and store CO2 safely and cost-efficiently in depleted oil and gas reservoirs, using existing infrastructure and increasing the carbon storage capacity immensely.

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Accelerating CCS Technologies (ACT)

CMC is partnering with Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) and industry partners EBN B.V. and Harbour Energy (formerly Chrysaor) to investigate the challenges associated with injecting CO2 into depleted oil and gas reservoirs. As the CO2 enters the depleted reservoir of interest, the pressure drop gives the CO2 space to expand. When CO2 expands, it causes fast cooling, and the process can freeze water in the pore spaces causing hydrates, or ice structures, which prevent the CO2 from being stored in the formation. It can also affect the injection infrastructure and cement around the wellbores, as well as the integrity of the seal. These effects could lead to fracturing and additional paths for CO2 to migrate out of the injection zone.

CMC is leading research efforts to model the flow of CO2 into depleted reservoirs. Assessing and reusing existing infrastructure from inactive well sites to depleted oil fields increases storage capacity and decreases timelines to complete large-scale CO2 storage projects.

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