Development of Conceptual Design for Commercial-Scale Geologic Storage and Monitoring System at American Electric Power Mountaineer Plant

Abstract

A system design for injecting 1.5 million tonnes CO2 per year at the American Electric Power's Mountaineer Plant was developed using geologic and reservoir data from a smaller scale injection validation test and a new test well. The preliminary assessment shows that the thin vuggy zones in the Copper Ridge Dolomite layer have significant injectivity and are likely to fulfill the project needs with two injection wells and an accompanying monitoring system. The monitoring program included wells in the injection, intermediate, and shallow zones for pressure and fluid monitoring, wireline logging, micro-seismic monitoring, surface emissions, corrosion, and mechanical integrity. Cost estimates for the program indicates that the storage system cost is about 20% of the total project cost, i.e., capture, transport, and storage; however, the cost uncertainty in storage is greater due to regulatory and geologic uncertainty.