Characterization of the Aquistore Project Site, Saskatchewan, Canada

Abstract

Aquistore is a new Carbon Capture and Storage demonstration project associated with SaskPower's Boundary Dam Integrated Carbon Capture and Storage Project in southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. Up to 1000 tonnes/day of carbon dioxide will be injected, starting in March 2015, into a permeable sandstone interval approximately 150m thick using a newly-drilled 3400m deep injection well and monitored, in part, using a new 3400m deep instrumented observation well that is 150m away from the injection well. Aquistore will provide ‘slipstream’ CO₂ injection between the commercial scale capture plant and active CO₂-EOR operations contracted to use the majority of the captured CO₂ from the coal-fired power plant. An extensive geological, geophysical, petrophysical, hydrogeological, and geochemical characterization program was undertaken using both pre-existing and newly-acquired data at this site. Characterization efforts were undertaken prior to, then during the drilling of the deep injection and monitoring wells, and afterwards. Data have been collected on both the surface and subsurface conditions at the site and surrounding area. Results were assembled into several geological models that were used to support planning and permitting of the project: to determine the geological integrity of the site; to provide background data for scientific and Risk Assessment studies; and for baseline measurements for Measurement, Monitoring, and Verification of CO₂ storage. All of the integrated characterization work at the site thus far indicates strongly favorable conditions for geological CO₂ storage in the subsurface at Aquistore.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90217 © 2015 International Conference & Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia, September 13-16, 2015