Assessment of carbon geological storage at Tula de Allende as a potential solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in central Mexico

Abstract

We describe a geological assessment for the development of a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project in the atmospherically polluted area of Tula de Allende, State of Hidalgo in Central México. This study targets a deep saline reservoir system (Soyatal and El Abra formations of Cretaceous age) by performing the first detailed analysis of the geological structure and petrophysical properties of the subsurface rocks in the study area. A comprehensive study of the stratigraphy and mineralogy was conducted with rocks from México's geologic repository (Litoteca Nacional). which included petrography, permeability, and CT scanning. The results were correlated with wireline logs and drilling reports of a dry well (Jasso-1) previously drilled for petroleum prospecting in the area. The integrated data identified a potential set of carbonaceous reservoir and caprock formations, with a preliminary storage capacity of 1.1 GTCO2.The industrial corridor in Tula de Allende includes a 300 KBPD refinery, an 1800 MW high-sulfur fuel oil- power plant, and cement factories, which contribute to air pollution that exceeds international limits of air quality of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), and particulates. A CCS project would not only improve the environmental quality for local inhabitants, reducing the atmospheric pollution in the immediate area but additionally have the same effects in Mexico City. The latter is noted to have a population of over 20 million where the winds are key in transporting these pollutants from the source area of Tula de Allende.