Gulf Coast Carbon Center
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Item A tool to facilitate modeling and pilot projects for sequestration of carbon dioxide in saline formations(American Chemical Society: Division of Fuel Chemistry, 2000) Hovorka, Susan D.; Romero, Martha L.; Warne, Andrew G.; Ambrose, William A.; Tremblay, Thomas A.; Treviño, Ramón H.Saline water-bearing formations that extend beneath much of the continental United States are attractive candidates for disposal of CO, produced during power generation or by other industrial processes. We have quantified the characteristics of saline formations that assure that gas can be efficiently injected into the selected subsurface unit and that it will remain sequestered for suitably long time periods. A GIS data base of these geologic attributes of 21 saline formations is available to support data analysis and comparison with CO, source locations. Attributes include depth, permeability, formation thickness, net sand thickness, percent shale, sand-body continuity, top seal thickness, continuity of top seal, hydrocarbon production from interval, fluid residence time, flow direction, C02soluhility in brine (P, T and salinity), rock mineralogy, water chemistry, and porosity. Variations in formation properties should be considered in order to match a surface greenhouse gas emissions reduction operation with a suitable subsurface disposal site.Item Technical summary: optimal geological environments for carbon dioxide disposal in brine-bearing formations (aquifers) in the United States(2000) Hovorka, Susan D.; Romero, Martha L.; Trevino, Ramon H.; Warne, Andrew. G.; Ambrose, W. A.; Knox, Paul R.; Tremblay, Thomas A.Item Capacity investigation of brine-bearing sands of the Frio Formation for geologic sequestration of CO2(First National Conference on Carbon Sequestration, May 14–17, Washington, D.C., sponsored by National Energy Technology Laboratory, 2001-05) Doughty, Christine; Pruess, Karston; Benson, Sally M.; Hovorka, Susan D.; Knox, Paul R.; Green, Christopher T.The capacity of fluvial brine-bearing formations to sequester CO2 is investigated using numerical simulations of CO2 injection and storage. Capacity is defined as the volume fraction of the subsurface available for CO2 storage and is conceptualized as a product of factors that account for two-phase flow and transport processes, formation geometry, formation heterogeneity, and formation porosity. The space and time domains used to define capacity must be chosen with care to obtain meaningful results, especially when comparing different authors’ work. Physical factors that impact capacity include permeability anisotropy and relative permeability to CO2, brine/CO2 density and viscosity ratios, the shape of the trapping structure, formation porosity and the presence of low permeability layering.Item Evaluation of brine-bearing sands of the Frio Formation, Upper Texas Gulf Coast for geologic sequestration of CO2(First National Conference on Carbon Sequestration, May 14–17, Washington, D.C., sponsored by National Energy Technology Laboratory, 2001-05) Hovorka, Susan D.; Doughty, Catherine A.; Knox, Paul R.; Green, Christopher T.; Pruess, Karston; Benson, Sally M.Item Environmental Assessment: Optimal Geological Environments for Carbon Dioxide Disposal in Brine Formations (Saline Aquifers) in the United States--Pilot Experiment in the Frio Formation, Houston Area(U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), 2003-04) Knox, Paul R.; Paine, Jeffrey G.; Hovorka, Susan D.Item Frio brine sequestration pilot in the Texas Gulf Coast(Greenhouse gas control technologies: Proceedings, 6th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, 2003-10-01) Hovorka, Susan D.; Knox, Paul R.A field experiment to pioneer CO2 injection for sequestration in a brine-bearing sandstone-shale sequence in the Texas Gulf Coast, USA, is in the preinjection modeling and planning phase. Innovations in this experiment include (1) CO2 injection into high-volume highpermeability rocks that have storage capacity sufficient to impact greenhouse gas emissions, (2) injection into a setting lacking the complications introduced by hydrocarbons and perturbations resulting from production and secondary recovery, and (3) intensive pre-, syn-, and post-injection monitoring and modeling for validation of the effectiveness of sequestration. The experiment is designed to provide a rapid increase in information from a small-volume and short-duration injection.Item Frio pilot in CO2 sequestration in brine-bearing sandstones: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, report to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to accompany a class V application for an experimental technology pilot injection well.(2003-12) Hovorka, Susan D.; Holtz, Mark H.; Sakurai, Shinichi; Knox, Paul R.; Collins, Dan; Papadeas, Phil; Stehli, DonaldItem The impact of geological heterogeneity on CO2 storage in brine formations: a case study from the Texas Gulf Coast(2004) Hovorka, Susan D.; Doughty, C.; Benson, S.M.; Pruess, K.; Knox, P.R.Item The U-tube: A novel system for acquiring borehole fluid samples from a deep geologic CO2 sequestration experiment(2005) Freifeld, B.M.; Trautz, R.C.; Kharaka, Y.K.; Phelps, T.J.; Myer, L.R.; Hovorka, Susan D.; Collins, D.J.Item Application of Numerical Models to Development of the Frio Brine Storage Experiment(EPA Modeling Workshop, 2005-04-06) Hovorka, Susan D.Item Frio Brine Pilot: lessons learned and questions restated(National Energy Technology Laboratory Fourth Annual Conference on Carbon Capture and Sequestration, 2005-05-02) Hovorka, S. D.; Benson, S.; Myer, L.Item Audience-Pleasing Physical Models to Support CO2 Outreach(National Energy Technology Laboratory Fourth Annual Conference on Carbon Capture and Sequestration, 2005-05-02) Hovorka, S. D.; Hotinski, R.; Friedmann, S. J.Outreach to increase public understanding is critical to implementation of carbon capture and storage, but conventional lectures may fail to engage a non-technical audience. In this presentation we will exhibit a selection of do-it-yourself demonstrations that are proven to grab an audience’s attention and can be adapted for use with a variety of groups. Using interesting and engaging physical models, and without use of PowerPoint, posters or handouts, speakers can show a non-technical audience (1) how CO2 is formed from the combustion of hydrocarbon molecules(2) how much CO2 we produce in daily activities, (3) why CO2 works to trap heat in the atmosphere 4)the properties of CO2 and its health and safety risks (5)how geologic storage of CO2 would work to reduce emissions. These demonstrations require only readily available, low-cost materials and have been used successfully with a variety of audiences, from adults to elementary school-age children. They are simple enough to be replicated by audience members for use in school and community programs.Item Flow modeling for the Frio Brine Pilot(e National Energy Technology Laboratory Fourth Annual Conference on Carbon Capture and Sequestration, 2005-05-02) Doughty, C.; Pruess, K.; Benson, S. M.Item From concept to reality: a systematic management approach for field implementation of the Frio Brine Pilot test(National Energy Technology Laboratory Fourth Annual Conference on Carbon Capture and Sequestration, 2005-05-02) Collins, D. J.Item Comparison of single and multiphase tracer test results from the Frio CO2 Pilot Study, Dayton, Texas(National Energy Technology Laboratory Fourth Annual Conference on Carbon Capture and Sequestration, 2005-05-02) Trautz, R.; Freifeld, B.; Doughty, C.Item Flow Modeling for CO2 Sequestration: The Frio Brine Pilot(American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 2005-12-05) Doughty, C.Item Gas-Water-Rock Interactions in Saline Aquifers Following CO2 Injection: Results from Frio Formation, Texas, USA(American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 2005-12-05) Kharaka, Y. K.; Cole, D. R.; Gunter, W. D.; Thordsen, J. J.; Kakouros, E.Item Borehole Seismic Monitoring of Injected CO2 at the Frio Site(American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, 2005-12-05) Daley, T. M.; Myer, L. R.; Hoversten, G. M.; Peterson, J. E.The recently completed CO2 injection in the brine aquifer of the Frio Formation in southeast Texas provided an opportunity to test borehole seismic monitoring techniques. Designed tests included time-lapse VSP and crosswell surveys which investigated the detectability of CO2 with surface-to-borehole and borehole-to-borehole measurement. The VSP method uses surface seismic sources in conjunction with borehole sensors to measure the seismic properties (such as velocity and reflection strength) in the vicinity of the borehole. By moving the source location, seismic properties can be mapped spatially around the sensor well. A large change (about 70%) in VSP reflection amplitude from the Frio zone was observed. Because of the relatively small amount of CO2 injected (about 1600 tons), and the thin injection interval (about 6 m thick at 1500 m depth), CO2 detectability by the VSP method was not an assumed certainty. The initial result is therefore quite promising for use of the VSP method. The crosswell method measures wave propagation between wells and can tomographically image the interwell volume. The crosswell survey was conducted using the injection well (for sensors) and a nearby monitoring well (for the source) which is about 30 m offset. Crosswell source locations were centered on the injection interval. The crosswell sensors were also centered on the injection interval, which is the 6-7 m thick, upper C sand in the Frio formation which is at a depth of about 1500 m. Initial analysis of the crosswell data shows good quality P- and S-wave direct arrivals. Time-lapse tomographic imaging maps the changes in velocity (up to 1 km/s) due to the CO2 plume.Item Assessing impacts to groundwater from CO2-flooding of SACROC and Claytonville oil fields in West Texas(2006) Smyth, Rebecca C.; Holtz, Mark H.; Guillot, Stephen N.Comparison of groundwater above two Permian Basin oil fields (SACROC Unit and Claytonville Field) near Snyder, Texas should allow us to assess potential impacts of 30 years of CO2-injection. CO2-flooding for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has been active at SACROC in Scurry County since 1972. Approximately 13.5 million tons per year (MtCO2/yr) are injected with withdrawal/recycling amounting to ~7MtCO2/yr. It is estimated that the site has accumulated more than 55MtCO2; however, no rigorous investigation of overlying groundwater has demonstrated that CO2 is trapped in the subsurface. Mineralogy of reservoir rocks at the Claytonville field in southwestern Fisher County is similar to SACROC. CO2-EOR is scheduled to begin at Claytonville Field in Fisher County in early 2007. Here we have the opportunity to characterize groundwater prior to CO2-injection and establish baseline conditions at Claytonville. Methods of this study will include: (1) examination of existing analyses of saline to fresh water samples collected within an eight-county area encompassing SACROC and Claytonville, (2) additional groundwater sampling for analysis of general chemistry plus field-measured pH, alkalinity, and temperature, stable isotopic ratios of hydrogen (D/H), oxygen (18O/16O), and carbon (13C/12C), and (3) geochemical equilibrium and flowpath modeling. Existing groundwater data are available from previous BEG studies, Texas Water Development Board, Kinder Morgan CO2 Company, and the U. S. Geological Survey. By examining these data we will identify regional groundwater variability and focus additional sampling efforts. The objective of this study is to look for potential impacts to shallow groundwater from deep CO2-injection. In the absence of conduit flow from depth, we don’t expect to see impacts to shallow groundwater, but methodology to demonstrate this to regulators needs to be established. This work is a subset of the Southwest Regional Partnership on Carbon Sequestration Phase 2studies funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) in cooperation with industry and government partners.