Threshold capillary pressure of caprocks for CO2 storage: Numerical insight on the dynamic and residual method

Abstract

The dynamic threshold pressure method and the residual capillary pressure method provide an estimate of the threshold capillary pressure for CO2 storage. In the dynamic method, the threshold capillary pressure is determined by comparing the discharge measured when the CO2 starts flowing into the sample with the one measured when only water is flowing. In the residual method, a high CO2 pressure is applied on the vessel at the inlet of a water-saturated sample while water cannot flow from the vessel at its end. The threshold capillary pressure is estimated as the difference between the CO2 and the water pressures at the sample boundaries at equilibrium conditions.Sensitive analyses showed the impact of material properties and experimental conditions on results. Both methods allow estimating the threshold capillary pressure within a few days and the estimates are influenced by the applied pressures. The dynamic method estimate is not precautionary, and it tends to the exact value as the applied CO2 overpressure decreases. The residual method estimate is influenced by the drainage conditions and the volume of the vessels: it is generally precautionary and tends to increase with the volume of the vessels and the applied pressure. Suggestions for test interpretation and planning are also provided.