The Baltic Basin: structure, properties of reservoir rocks, and capacity for geological storage of CO₂

Abstract

Baltic countries are located in the limits of the Baltic sedimentary basin, a 700 km long and 500 km wide synclinal structure. The axis of the syneclise plunges to the southwest. In Poland the Precambrian basement occurs at a depth of 5 km. The Baltic Basin includes the Neoproterozoic Ediacaran (Vendian) at the base and all Phanerozoic systems. Two aquifers, the lower Devonian and Cambrian reservoirs, meet the basic requirements for CO 2 storage. The porosity and permeability of sandstone decrease with depth. The average porosity of Cambrian sandstone at depths of 80-800, 800-1800, and 1800-2300 m is 18.6, 14.2, and 5.5%, respectively. The average permeability is, respectively, 311, 251, and 12 mD. Devonian sandstone has an average porosity of 26% and permeability in the range of 0.5-2 D. Prospective Cambrian structural traps occur only in Latvia. The 16 largest ones have CO 2 storage capacity in the range of 2-74 Mt, with total capacity exceeding 400 Mt. The structural trapping is not an option for Lithuania as the uplifts there are too small. Another option is utilization of CO 2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The estimated total EOR net volume of CO 2 (part of CO 2 remaining in the formation) in Lithuania is 5.6 Mt. Solubility and mineral trapping are a long-term option. The calculated total solubility trapping capacity of the Cambrian reservoir is as high as 11 Gt of CO 2 within the area of the supercritical state of carbon dioxide.

Solar Assisted Ground Source Heat Pump Performance in Nearly Zero Energy Building in Baltic Countries

“…4). [19] According to the meteorological data sets aggregated and presented above, one can conclude that climate and geological conditions are quite the same in all three Baltic countries and the heat demands for NZEB are also very similar.…”

A comprehensive approach to the 3D geological modelling of sedimentary basins: example of Latvia, the central part of the Baltic Basin

“…Certain geological modelling has previously been done in the neighbouring areas Vallner 2003) and regional studies including the 3D characterization of the geological structure (Poprowa et al 1999;Šliaupa 2002;Shogenova et al 2009;Spalvins et al 2012;Virbulis et al 2012Virbulis et al , 2013) have been carried out in Latvia. Nevertheless, direct modelling of the 3D geometry of the geological structure of Latvia has not been performed so far.…”

Potential structures for CO₂ geological storage in the Baltic Sea: Case study offshore Latvia

“…A number of structural uplifts in the Cambrian rocks bounded by faults are prospective reservoirs for CGS in Latvia. Np3 -Ediacaran (Vendian); Ca -Cambrian; OOrdovician; S1 -Lower Silurian (Llandovery and Wenlock series); S2 -Upper Silurian (Ludlow and Pridoli series); D1, D2 and D3 -Lower, Middle and Upper Devonian, respectively; P2 -Middle Permian; T1 -Lower Triassic; J -Jurassic; KCretaceous; Q -Quaternary (modified from Shogenova et al, 2009a). using structural maps of the E6 reservoir and cap rock top and cross section of the well E6-1/84, the geological cross section of the E6 structure was constructed (Fig.…”

“…Permeability (K gas ) was determined when passing gas through the samples using the "GK-5" apparatus. More detailed description of K gas measurements is given in Shogenova et al (2009a). P-wave acoustic velocities of dry rock samples were measured with "DUK-20" equipment (100 KHz).…”

“…Previous studies reported extremely high CO 2 emissions per capita in Estonia and need of carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) implementation to reduce the greenhouse gas effect and the Earth's climate change (Sliaupa et al, 2008;Shogenova et al, 2009aShogenova et al, , b, 2011aShogenov et al, 2013). According to these studies Estonia has unfavourable for CO 2 geological storage (CGS) conditions (shallow sedimentary basin and potable water available in all known aquifers) and storage capacity of Lithuanian geological structures was estimated as insufficient, due to small size of the structures (Fig.…”