Potential For Carbon Dioxide Sequestration And Enhanced Oil Recovery In The Vedder Formation, Greeley Field, San Joaquin Valley, California

Abstract

Most scientists agree that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) are major contributors to the global warming trend and climate change. One effort to mitigate anthropogenic sourced CO2 is through Carbon Capture and Sequestration. Depleted oil and gas reservoirs due to their known trapping capability, in-place infrastructure, and proximity to carbon emission sources are good candidates for possible CO2 storage. The Vedder formation is one of three reservoirs identified in the San Joaquin Basin that meets standards for possible storage. An analysis of net fluid production data (produced minus injected) from discovery to the present can identify the reservoir volume available for CO2 storage. Data regarding reservoir pressure response to injection and production of fluids include final shut-in pressures from drill stem test, static bottom-hole pressure measurements from well completion histories, and idle well fluid level measurements for recent pressure data. All data collected was logged and entered into excel spreadsheets and mapping software to create subsurface structure, reservoir thickness and pressure maps, cross sections, and production/injection charts on a well-by-well basis. This data is used to determine storage capacity and the amount of pressure variance within the field to determine how the reservoir will react to CO2 injection. Preliminary results indicate a homogenous field with large storage capacity and ability to transmit pressure changes over large areas. An analysis of production by stream suggests that a strong water drive may negatively impact the storage capacity.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90215 © 2015 Pacific Section AAPG Convention, Oxnard, California, May 3-6, 2015