Reservoir Numerical Simulation for CO₂ Sequestration in Paraná Basin, Brazil

Abstract

Paraná Basin’s location comprises a relevant portion of stationary emissions sources in Brazil as well as relatively better infrastructure in terms of roads and pipelines in Brazillian South and Southeast. The prevention of CO₂ atmospheric emissions in order to attend a low carbon economy perspective could be executed by capturing the gas from flue gases of those stationary sources and transporting it to a safe location for geological injection. The Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies are considered an important option for CO₂ atmospheric emissions mitigation but its feasibility relies on finding a geological reservoir with adequate properties that can ensure that the CO₂ injected will stay confined without leakage. Paraná Basin has a potential for shale gas production which have not been explored and this activity would leave a depleted and well-known potential reservoir for CO₂ storage. In order to better understand Paraná Basin’s potential for CO₂ storage in its shale formations a research is been conducted in the Research Centre for Gas Innovation in University of São Paulo, including reservoir numerical simulation studies that will contribute to the comprehension of fluid dynamics in depleted shale gas reservoir under CO₂ injection for permanent storage. Despite Oil & Gas industry’s experience with CO₂ injection in conventional reservoirs for EOR, unconventional reservoirs rises as a new frontier for CCS development. Increasing interest in shale gas reservoirs for CO₂ storage due to shale production growth in North America, the large distribution of reserves, and shales adsorption high capacity. Reservoir simulation studies on CO₂ injection in shale reservoirs are mainly focused on geological features and more attention to injection strategy is required for the deployment CCS processes with depleted shale gas reservoirs. There’s lack of studies in engineering feature’s impact on different geological contexts and focused on rate and injection pressure. In addition, most are focused on CH₄ enhanced recovery and that few studies have been conducted to investigate the impact of engineering parameters on the capacity and safety of CO₂ storage. Therefore, the major challenges are related to the absence of data from commercial plants of CO₂ sequestration in depleted shale gas reservoirs and the reservoir modelling coupled with specific reactions which may affect the storage long-term security.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90350 © 2019 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, May 19-22, 2019