Monitoring and Modeling CO2 Behavior in Multiple Oil Bearing Carbonate Reefs for a Large Scale Demonstration in Northern Lower Michigan

Abstract

The Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) is conducting large-scale CO2 injection into carbonate reefs in northern Lower Michigan, using CO2-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) fields as test beds for understanding geoscience issues and developing best practices. Depleted oil and gas fields are of regional importance as they are increasingly seen as a significant opportunity for geologic storage in Midwestern USA. The demonstration and concurrent technology transfer are aimed at promoting this early deployment option for carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS). Three types of reef are being evaluated: late stage reefs that have already undergone significant CO2-EOR, active stage reefs with ongoing CO2-EOR, and newly targeted reefs that are in primary production. Initial modeling and monitoring results, as well as feasibility assessments of using technologies such as tracer studies, vertical seismic profiling, microseismic monitoring, borehole gravity survey, and remote sensing, are guiding the design of the long-term monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA) program.