--> Abstract: Integrated Rock Physics Studies and 3D Seismic Surveys to Evaluate CO2 Sequestration in the SACROC Field, Texas, by Brian Lipinski, Christopher Purcell, William Harbert, Yee Soong, Robert McLendon, Robert Hardage, Rebecca Smyth, Igor Haljasmaa, Dustin McIntyre, and Sinisha Jay Jikich; #90084 (2008)

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Integrated Rock Physics Studies and 3D Seismic Surveys to Evaluate CO2 Sequestration in the SACROC Field, Texas

Brian Lipinski1, Christopher Purcell1, William Harbert1, Yee Soong2, Robert McLendon2, Robert Hardage3, Rebecca Smyth3, Igor Haljasmaa2, Dustin McIntyre2, and Sinisha Jay Jikich4
1Department of Geology and Planetary Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2National Energy Technology Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, Pittsburgh, PA
3Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX
4RDS Inc, Morgantown, WV

The SACROC field is located in Scurry County, Texas and lies on the northeastern edge of the Permian Basin. It is the seventh largest onshore oil field in North America containing approximately 2.73 Billion Bbls of original oil in place. The main producing units are the Pennsylvanian aged Cisco and Canyon Formations. These are highly heterogeneous reef complexes that contain massive amounts of bedded bioclastic limestone and thin intercalcated shale beds. The average porosity is 7.1% with a permeability of approximately 31 mD. The depth to this reef complex is approximately 2040 meters. These units are a part of the larger carbonate platform called the Horseshoe Atoll.

The site is the oldest CO2 enhanced oil recovery site in the United States with over 140 million metric tons of CO2 injected since 1972. Recently, the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the United States Department of Energy has funded a combined carbon sequestration and enhanced oil recovery project at the site. In the first phase of the study, laboratory measurements of reservoir properties were collected at varying reservoir conditions. These measurements were then used to model the anticipated seismic response of the reservoir, which was then compared to 3D seismic data collected before a CO2 flood. In the final phase of the study, successive surveys will be used to map CO2 migration and asses the integrity of the overlying caprock, which are marine shale units of the Permian aged Wolfcamp Formation.

Presented AAPG Eastern Section Meeting, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2008 © AAPG Eastern Section