Revisiting the Utsira Saline Aquifer CO2 Storage Resources Using the SRMS Classification Framework

Thibeau, Sylvain; Seldon, Lesley; Masserano, Franco; Vila, Jacobo Canal; Ringrose, Philip

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3366195

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…number of well penetrations. studies (Holloway, 1996;Bøe et al, 2002;Chadwick et al, 2008;Halland et al, 2011;Thibeau & Mucha 2011;Pham et al, 2013a;Gasda et al, 2017;Thibeau et al, 2018). We do not provide the storage capacity for areas of the aquifer outside of structural traps, even though they may have suitable properties for storage (positive CC and > 700 m depth).…”

Section: Prospect Storage Capacitiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…For the FRT, storage efficiency estimates for aquifers (total pore volume) typically range from 2 to 8% (May et al, 2005), but can be >10% (Bachu, 2015). We use a central value of 5%, based on data from the Sleipner injection site (in 2013) (Thibeau et al, 2018). The Sleipner site does not have a distinct closure at the top of the reservoir and the full aquifer thickness is used for storage.…”

Section: Structural Trapping Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…URU Upper Regional Unconformity. Gasda et al, 2017;Thibeau et al, 2018), which give a large range of capacities from 0.3 to 60 Gt CO 2 (Thibeau et al, 2018). Few studies have included the Skade Fm.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Regional Exploration and Characterisation of CO2 Storage Prospects in the Utsira-Skade Aquifer, North Viking Graben, North Sea

Lloyd

Huuse

Barrett

et al. 2021

Earth Sci. Syst. Soc.

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Subsurface CO2 storage is considered a key element of reducing anthropogenic emissions in virtually all scenarios compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The Utsira-Skade Aquifer (Utsira, Eir and Skade Formations), northern North Sea, has been identified as a suitable reservoir. Although the overall storage capacity of the full aquifer has been estimated based on regional data, it is lacking an integrated assessment of containment and internal heterogeneity, to identify optimal areas for injection and for calculation of site-specific storage capacities. A high-resolution, broadband 3D seismic reflection dataset, full waveform inverted velocity data and 102 exploration wells are utilised to provide a catalogue of CO2 storage prospects in the northern Utsira-Skade Aquifer. This is achieved through: 1) definition of the aquifer’s spatial limits; 2) calculation of porosity distribution; 3) assessment of the extent, geomorphology, thickness variability, and containment confidence (CC) of mudstones; and 4) mapping of closures through fill-to-spill simulations. CO2 storage capacity was calculated for the prospects using two approaches; using the full reservoir thickness (FRT) beneath the closures and using only the thickness from the closure top to the spill point (TSP), i.e., within structural traps. Porosity ranges from 29 to 39% across the aquifer and is higher in the Utsira and Eir Fms. relative to the underlying Skade Fm. The mudstone separating the Skade and Eir/Utsira Fm. has a thickness > 50 m, and is a potential barrier for CO2. Other intra-aquifer mudstones were mainly interpreted to act as baffles to flow. Structural traps at the top Utsira and Skade Fms. yield fifteen prospects, with criteria of > 700 m depth and FRT storage capacity of > 5 Mt CO2. They have a combined storage capacity of 330 Mt CO2 (FRT) or 196 Mt CO2 (TSP). Five prospects have a positive CC score (total capacity: 54 Mt CO2 FRT or 39 Mt CO2 TSP). Additional storage capacity could be achieved through more detailed analysis of the seal to upgrade the CC scores, or through use of a network of the mapped closures with a fill-to-spill approach, utilising more of the aquifer.

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Section: Prospect Storage Capacitiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Structural Trapping Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Regional Exploration and Characterisation of CO2 Storage Prospects in the Utsira-Skade Aquifer, North Viking Graben, North Sea

Lloyd

Huuse

Barrett

et al. 2021

Earth Sci. Syst. Soc.

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show abstract

“…The capacity of the Utsira formation offshore Norway (an extensive shallow marine sandstone of Miocene age), which hosts the Sleipner CO2 storage project, has been much studied in terms of future storage potential. CO2 storage capacity estimates for the Utsira Fm range between 1 and 60 Gt depending on assumptions made; (82), ranging from the exploitation of structural traps only (at the low end) to development concepts using multiple wells, residual trapping, and pressure management (at the high end). However, the investiable resource (i.e.…”

Section: Trap Capacity and Pressure Limitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Saline Aquifers: Physicochemical Processes, Key Constraints, and Scale-Up Potential

Ringrose

Furre

Gilfillan

et al. 2021

Annu. Rev. Chem. Biomol. Eng.

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CO2 storage in saline aquifers offers a realistic means of achieving globally significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions at the scale of billions of tonnes per year. We review insights into the processes involved using well-documented industrial-scale projects, supported by a range of laboratory analyses, field studies, and flow simulations. The main topics we address are ( a) the significant physicochemical processes, ( b) the factors limiting CO2 storage capacity, and ( c) the requirements for global scale-up. Although CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technology can be considered mature and proven, it requires significant and rapid scale-up to meet the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement. The projected growth in the number of CO2 injection wells required is significantly lower than the historic petroleum industry drill rates, indicating that decarbonization via CCS is a highly credible and affordable ambition for modern human society. Several technology developments are needed to reduce deployment costs and to stimulate widespread adoption of this technology, and these should focus on demonstration of long-term retention and safety of CO2 storage and development of smart ways of handling injection wells and pressure, cost-effective monitoring solutions, and deployment of CCS hubs with associated infrastructure. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Volume 12 is June 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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“…CO 2 storage studies on the Utsira Fm. have generally focused on the storage capacity for either the full formation (Gasda et al., 2017; Halland et al., 2011; Thibeau & Mucha, 2011), for discrete structural traps (Chadwick et al., 2008) or both (Bøe et al., 2002; Holloway, 1996; Thibeau et al., 2018). These studies either assume complete seal integrity or inject CO 2 until the maximum sealing pressure capacity is reached (Gasda et al., 2017; Thibeau & Mucha, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A regional CO₂ containment assessment of the northern Utsira Formation seal and overburden, northern North Sea

et al. 2021

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Upscaling Carbon Capture and Storage requires identification of suitable storage sites, with robust reservoir seals. The Utsira Formation in the northern North Sea has been flagged as a target for further storage. However, there are no regional studies of seal variability addressing heterogeneities that could facilitate seal bypass. This study aims to: (a) identify, assess and map the elements that promote or restrict fluid migration, (b) develop a matrix to regionally map containment confidence (CC) and (c) rank the different areas for CO 2 containment across the Utsira Formation. The seal and overburden were mapped using a high-resolution, pre-stack depth-migrated Highlights• There is not a laterally-extensive and homogenous seal above the Utsira Formation.• Regional high-resolution data and modern interpretation approaches illuminate potential seal bypass systems.• A novel containment confidence matrix is used to rank the potential CO 2 storage areas.• The workflow for detailed seal and overburden assessment is highly applicable to other basins. | 1987 EAGE LLOYD et aL. F I G U R E 1 Study area with wells and data extent. (a) Context of the study area in the North Sea and the location of the Sleipner injection site. Satellite imagery from the World Imagery layer of ArcMap online. Bathymetry from EMODnet Bathymetry Consortium (2018). (b) A simplified map showing the main structural elements in the study area (modified from Faerseth et al., 1996). (c) Utsira Fm. thickness map (Eidvin et al., 2013) with seismic dataset extent (yellow box). Dots show wells used in this study, and data from those highlighted in white are presented in this study.Oil and gas fields in the region are also indicated. (d) Regional west-east profile of the Jurassic Rift and overlying stratigraphy split into groups to show main structural elements for reference. Inset shows the studied interval.

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Revisiting the Utsira Saline Aquifer CO2 Storage Resources Using the SRMS Classification Framework

Cited by 5 publications

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Regional Exploration and Characterisation of CO2 Storage Prospects in the Utsira-Skade Aquifer, North Viking Graben, North Sea

Regional Exploration and Characterisation of CO2 Storage Prospects in the Utsira-Skade Aquifer, North Viking Graben, North Sea

Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Saline Aquifers: Physicochemical Processes, Key Constraints, and Scale-Up Potential

A regional CO₂ containment assessment of the northern Utsira Formation seal and overburden, northern North Sea

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Revisiting the Utsira Saline Aquifer CO2 Storage Resources Using the SRMS Classification Framework

Cited by 5 publications

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Regional Exploration and Characterisation of CO2 Storage Prospects in the Utsira-Skade Aquifer, North Viking Graben, North Sea

Regional Exploration and Characterisation of CO2 Storage Prospects in the Utsira-Skade Aquifer, North Viking Graben, North Sea

Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Saline Aquifers: Physicochemical Processes, Key Constraints, and Scale-Up Potential

A regional CO2 containment assessment of the northern Utsira Formation seal and overburden, northern North Sea

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A regional CO₂ containment assessment of the northern Utsira Formation seal and overburden, northern North Sea