Potential for Permanent CO2 Geological Storage, an Onshore Abu Dhabi Large Scale Assessment
Abstract: CCS technologies are well established, many ongoing projects have proven to be safe and reliable. Saline aquifers can be leading CO2 permanent storage candidates. A comprehensive multi-discipline study was carried out looking at the potential for CO2 sequestration in deep saline aquifer formations onshore Abu Dhabi. The area of interest is large in scale (regional scale) and consists of multi saline aquifer formations. The study has the added complexity that the same saline aquifer formations may be shared wit… Show more
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Cited by 6 publications
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CCS in Onshore Deep Carbonate Saline Aquifer: Fast-Track from Feasibility to Project Implementation
As a key milestone of ADNOC sustainability initiative and to support the UAE’s net-zero goals, a major CCS project was initiated focusing on permanent CO2 storage in deep carbonate saline aquifers Onshore Abu Dhabi. Following a comprehensive feasibility study, an appraisal and injection well site was selected. The first CO2 injection well was spudded. The project is the world’s first deep carbonate saline aquifers commercial CCS project! This paper aims to present the work completed taking the project from feasibility study to execution with clear technical and business drivers. Key challenges and innovations are presented, enabling the project to progress within a short record time of less than two years. A multi-discipline integrated approach embedding specialized external service providers was adopted throughout the project stages, aiming at ensuring CO2 containment, cost optimization and technology innovation. The comprehensive feasibility study was completed with international CCS project benchmarking. The de-risking program included data acquisition from offset wells and associated geo-mechanical and geo-chemical laboratory tests. For appraisal well site location, a new high resolution 3D seismic and offset wells data were used. Extensive risk analysis was performed covering full project life cycle. Well injection and MMV plan was designed to meet short and long term technical (especially CO2 containment) business requirements. The integrated project feasibility study identified several deep carbonate saline aquifer formations offering significant CO2 storage potential. High level study was carried out including surface facilities design and storage development plan. De-risking for CO2 containment assurance targeted open hole logs and core from offset wells, and associated comprehensive geo-mechanical and geo-chemical laboratory tests. The findings lead to the recommendation of drilling the first carbonate deep saline aquifer CO2 sequestration well, within the framework of a low carbon business development strategy. A high resolution 3D seismic and offset well geological data were used to screen and select well location. 3D geo-mechanical study helps well injection design to safeguard cap-rock integrity and minimize the risks of far-field fault re-activation. Significant challenges in well design were addressed, for example, potential J-T cooling effect from CO2 injection. CO2 injection design was aimed at de-risking long term injectivity and reducing overall storage capacity uncertainties. The MMV plan was designed to meet short term and long term requirements. Innovative monitoring technologies such as shallow soil tracers, CO2 in air laser detection, and DAS/DTS/DSS are implemented. For this the world’s first onshore carbonate deep saline aquifer commercial CCS project, the work completed under full-value-chain process are presented covering amongst others CCS feasibility, site selection, well and injection test design, MMV plan, risk assessment and low carbon business case. Key technical and design challenges are highlighted and addressed together with technology innovations. It is hoped that the multi-discipline integrated and commercial-driven approach can provide discernment for operators planning similar studies/projects.
CCS in Onshore Deep Carbonate Saline Aquifer: Fast-Track from Feasibility to Project Implementation
As a key milestone of ADNOC sustainability initiative and to support the UAE’s net-zero goals, a major CCS project was initiated focusing on permanent CO2 storage in deep carbonate saline aquifers Onshore Abu Dhabi. Following a comprehensive feasibility study, an appraisal and injection well site was selected. The first CO2 injection well was spudded. The project is the world’s first deep carbonate saline aquifers commercial CCS project! This paper aims to present the work completed taking the project from feasibility study to execution with clear technical and business drivers. Key challenges and innovations are presented, enabling the project to progress within a short record time of less than two years. A multi-discipline integrated approach embedding specialized external service providers was adopted throughout the project stages, aiming at ensuring CO2 containment, cost optimization and technology innovation. The comprehensive feasibility study was completed with international CCS project benchmarking. The de-risking program included data acquisition from offset wells and associated geo-mechanical and geo-chemical laboratory tests. For appraisal well site location, a new high resolution 3D seismic and offset wells data were used. Extensive risk analysis was performed covering full project life cycle. Well injection and MMV plan was designed to meet short and long term technical (especially CO2 containment) business requirements. The integrated project feasibility study identified several deep carbonate saline aquifer formations offering significant CO2 storage potential. High level study was carried out including surface facilities design and storage development plan. De-risking for CO2 containment assurance targeted open hole logs and core from offset wells, and associated comprehensive geo-mechanical and geo-chemical laboratory tests. The findings lead to the recommendation of drilling the first carbonate deep saline aquifer CO2 sequestration well, within the framework of a low carbon business development strategy. A high resolution 3D seismic and offset well geological data were used to screen and select well location. 3D geo-mechanical study helps well injection design to safeguard cap-rock integrity and minimize the risks of far-field fault re-activation. Significant challenges in well design were addressed, for example, potential J-T cooling effect from CO2 injection. CO2 injection design was aimed at de-risking long term injectivity and reducing overall storage capacity uncertainties. The MMV plan was designed to meet short term and long term requirements. Innovative monitoring technologies such as shallow soil tracers, CO2 in air laser detection, and DAS/DTS/DSS are implemented. For this the world’s first onshore carbonate deep saline aquifer commercial CCS project, the work completed under full-value-chain process are presented covering amongst others CCS feasibility, site selection, well and injection test design, MMV plan, risk assessment and low carbon business case. Key technical and design challenges are highlighted and addressed together with technology innovations. It is hoped that the multi-discipline integrated and commercial-driven approach can provide discernment for operators planning similar studies/projects.
CO2 Storage in a Giant Depleted Carbonate Gas Reservoir -Addressing Feasibility and Design Challenges with Field Data
An integrated study on CO2 storage in a giant depleted gas reservoir was completed. The objectives were to assess feasibility, potential capacity and timing for CO2 storage. Significant design challenges were addressed, including thermal-geo-mechanical impact on cap-rock integrity due to injection CO2 cooling, hydrate, injection well life cycle design and clusters location and surface facilities options. Further de-risking is recommended and ongoing. An integrated approach was adopted combining/optimizing requirements from reservoir, injection wells, cap rock integrity, surface clustering, CO2 transportation and compression/pumping. Key impacts were accounted for: injection J-T effect, hydrate, stress changes, cap rock integrity, well life cycle design, existing well integrity, costs, and surface facilities. Single well models were developed for injection cooling simulation and well design options. 3D reservoir simulations were performed for reservoir pressure changes, storage options, thermal and geo-mechanics for cap rock integrity. Surface facilities options were evaluated, arrival pressure and temperature impact. Several iterations were carried out aiming at optimizing project economics with uncertainty analysis. Results from a CO2 field injection test are presented, part of key design input. Detailed 3D reservoir simulations show that CO2 injection start-up timing and ramping up strategy are important: starting early helps additional gas recovery, late would exacerbate injection CO2 J-T cooling. Placing CO2injectors further away from producers helps enhanced gas recovery. The results of an extended actual field CO2 injection tests are presented, showing downhole temperature changes with injection rate and transient stabilization. Existing well logs and stress profile measurements were combined. Single well models were developed to simulated cooling around well-bore. Velocity strings, small tubing sizes, are potential injector design options. Hydrates formation was found in certain scenarios. Thermal-Geo-mechanics analysis show appreciable stress changes possibly propagating > 150m into cap-rock. Although CO2 surface arrival temperature can be boosted by installing heaters, but would incur higher costs and additional requirements on wellhead design. It became apparent that individual subject requirements would affect the overall design. An iterative-looping integrated approach was adopted with CO2containment and maximizing project economics as over-riding objectives. Overall CO2 storage capacity was maximized. Adequate field data/measurements are essential and critical modelling input. Further de-risking recommendations include core laboratory geo-mechanical testing, further CO2 field higher rate testing, and comprehensive existing well integrity assessment.
Falaha CCS Project - Pioneering Low Carbon Solutions with CO2 Sequestration in Deep Carbonate Saline Aquifers
The ADNOC Falaha CCS Project, inaugurated in November 2023, marks a significant milestone in sustainability and supports the UAE's net-zero goals. This project is a world first, enabling the production of low-carbon products through CO2 sequestration in onshore deep carbonate saline aquifers. It is also the first full carbonate saline aquifer CCS project announced in the GCC Gulf region. The project has successfully captured and sequestered CO2. This paper aims to present the key results of the project, highlight technological innovations, and share initiatives undertaken to overcome challenges and fast-track project execution. A multi-disciplinary integrated approach, involving specialized external service providers, was adopted throughout the project stages. This approach aimed to ensure CO2 containment, cost optimization, and technological innovation. A comprehensive feasibility study was completed, benchmarking the project against international CCS projects. The de-risking program included data acquisition from offset wells and associated geo-mechanical and geo-chemical laboratory tests. For the appraisal well site location, new high-resolution 3D seismic data and offset wells data were used. Extensive risk analysis was performed, covering the full project life cycle. The well injection and Measurement, Monitoring, and Verification (MMV) plan was designed to meet both short-term and long-term technical (especially CO2 containment) and business requirements. The integrated project feasibility study identified several deep carbonate saline aquifer formations offering significant CO2 storage potential. High level study was carried out including surface facilities design and storage development plan. De-risking for CO2 containment assurance targeted open hole logs and core from offset wells, and associated comprehensive geo-mechanical and geo-chemical laboratory tests. The findings lead to the recommendation of drilling the first carbonate CO2 injection well, within the framework of a low carbon business development strategy. The Falaha CCS Project utilized high-resolution 3D seismic and offset well geological data to screen and select well locations. A 3D geo-mechanical study was conducted to aid in well injection design, ensuring the integrity of the cap-rock and minimizing the risks of far-field fault re-activation. Significant challenges in well design were addressed, such as the potential Joule-Thomson (J-T) cooling effects from CO2 injection. The CO2 injection design aimed to provide data for de-risking long-term injectivity and reduce overall storage capacity uncertainties. The MMV plan was designed to meet both short-term and long-term requirements. Innovative monitoring technologies, such as shallow soil tracers, CO2 in air laser detection, and Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS), and Distributed Strain Sensing (DSS), were implemented. Baseline measurements, including baseline water injection, are described. CO2 injection commenced from Q3'2023. Injection performance exceeded prognoses. For this world's first onshore carbonate deep saline aquifer commercial CCS project, the work completed under the full-value-chain process is presented. This includes CCS feasibility, site selection, well and injection test design, MMV plan, risk assessment, and the low carbon business case. Key technical and design challenges are highlighted and addressed, along with technology innovations. Initial well results are shared. It is hoped that the multi-disciplinary integrated and commercially-driven approach can provide valuable insights for operators planning similar studies or projects.
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