Abstract
We present the current status of time-lapse seismic integration at the Farnsworth (FWU) CO2 WAG (water-alternating-gas) EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) project at Ochiltree County, northwest Texas. As a potential carbon sequestration mechanism, CO2 WAG projects will be subject to some degree of monitoring and verification, either as a regulatory requirement or to qualify for economic incentives. In order to evaluate the viability of time-lapse seismic as a monitoring method the Southwest Partnership (SWP) has conducted time-lapse seismic monitoring at FWU using the 3D Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) method. The efficacy of seismic time-lapse depends on a number of key factors, which vary widely from one application to another. Most important among these are the thermophysical properties of the original fluid in place and the displacing fluid, followed by the petrophysical properties of the rock matrix, which together determine the effective elastic properties of the rock fluid system. We present systematic analysis of fluid thermodynamics and resulting thermophysical properties, petrophysics and rock frame elastic properties, and elastic property modeling through fluid substitution using data collected at FWU. These analyses will be framed in realistic scenarios presented by the FWU CO2 WAG development. The resulting fluid/rock physics models will be applied to output from the calibrated FWU compositional reservoir simulation model to forward model the time-lapse seismic response. Modeled results are compared with field time-lapse seismic measurements and strategies for numerical model feedback/update are discussed. While mechanical effects are neglected in the work presented here, complementary parallel studies are underway in which laboratory measurements are introduced to introduce stress dependence of matrix elastic moduli.
Highlights
The Southwest Regional Partnership on Carbon Sequestration (SWP) is one of seven large-scale CO2 sequestration projects sponsored by the U.S Department of Energy [1]
The CO2 WAG field development scheme being applied at FWU is a is a popular form of tertiary hydrocarbon recovery which holds promise as a large-scale CO2 utilization and storage (CCUS) mechanism
We use the extensive body of site characterization data and reservoir modeling performed at FWU as the basis for a comprehensive fluid property and rock physics modeling study, followed by comparison with time-lapse Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) surveys
Summary
The Southwest Regional Partnership on Carbon Sequestration (SWP) is one of seven large-scale CO2 sequestration projects sponsored by the U.S Department of Energy [1]. The primary objective of the SWP effort is to exhibit and evaluate an active commercial-scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) operation, and demonstrate associated effective site characterization, monitoring, verification, accounting, and risk assessment. The SWP field site is located within the Farnsworth Unit CO2 WAG (water-after-gas) EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) project at Ochiltree County, northwest Texas which is undergoing conversion to a CO2 flood. The CO2 WAG field development scheme being applied at FWU is a is a popular form of tertiary hydrocarbon recovery which holds promise as a large-scale CO2 utilization and storage (CCUS) mechanism. The CO2 WAG process [2] involves cyclic alternation between CO2 and water injection phases for optimal mobilization and sweep of Energies 2021, 14, 5476 involves cyclic alternation between CO2 and water injection phases for optimal mobilization and sweep of liquid hydrocarbons remaining in pattern drilling developments after liquid hydrocarbons pattern drilling developments after carbon primarysequestrarecovery primary recovery andremaining waterfloodin(secondary recovery)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
