William B. Harrison III ([email protected] 269-387-8691), D.A. Barnes , G.M. Grammer, and A. Wahr, Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Eduction, Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan

An evaluation of the potential for geological carbon sequestration has been conducted during the past 18 months under the auspices of the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership. This research has identified two types of targets that have significant potential in Michigan.

Oil and gas reservoirs are important because they have natural confining or sealing strata that provide containment for the injected CO2. Additionally, injection of CO2 into oil reservoirs provides an opportunity for enhanced oil recovery through reservoir repressurization and viscosity reduction. CO2 is sequestered during the EOR process even though sequestration is not the main economic motivator. Currently several Silurian reef oil reservoirs are being flooded with CO2 for EOR. It is estimated that about 300,000 tons of CO2 has been sequestered in the last ten years. Other oil-bearing horizons in Michigan include the Devonian Traverse and Dundee limestones and Detroit River Group, Lucas Fm. dolostones and Trenton/Black River reservoirs. Cumulative Michigan historic oil production exceeds 1.2 billion barrels. Widespread development of CO2-based EOR might produce another 150 million barrels of oil from known reservoirs and sequester several hundred million tons of CO2.

A far larger potential target for CO2 sequestration in Michigan is the extensive saline aquifers system in the Basin. The Cambrian, Mt. Simon Sandstone and the Ordovician, St. Peter Sandstone along with the Devonian Sylvania Sandstone are widespread aquifers that contain highly saline brine. Saline aquifers are also present off-structure in the Devonian Traverse, Dundee and Lucas Formations. Carbon sequestration in these saline aquifers is hundreds of times greater than in the oil fields.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90059©2006 AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Buffalo, New York