Integrated Sub-basin Scale Exploration for Carbon Storage Targets: Advanced Characterization of Geologic Reservoirs and Caprocks in the upper Ohio River Valley

Leveraging operational information from wastewater injection wells to evaluate CO2 injection performance for carbon storage applications in the Appalachian Basin

“…Rock formations at both sites dip gently to the east‐southeast at approximately 15 m km −1 and have mainly lithologic trapping mechanisms related to facies changes within the deep saline formations. CO 2 resource calculations using U.S. DOE/NETL's CO 2 ‐SCREEN suggested a capacity to store 50 million metric tons CO 2 in the study area, and that adjacent depleted oil fields could provide additional associated CO 2 storage capacity 3,16 …”

“…4). A local static earth model (SEM) was developed for the study area based on detailed analysis of geophysical logs, core tests, and deep well logs 5,10,15,16,17 . The stacked reservoirs included the Rose Run sandstone (where the formation is not being used for oil and gas production), vugular lower Copper Ridge dolomite, and vugular/paleokarst Maryville formation.…”

“…The data in the geologic model were complemented by flowmeter testing in several wastewater injection wells across the region, which indicated that there are multiple locally to regionally continuous zones of high‐permeability rock 16,19 . The flow meter tests involved running a wireline flowmeter in wastewater injection wells during injection (Fig.…”

“…Consequently, operational data from brine injection wells were also compiled to calibrate reservoir kh values to long‐term injection performance. Daily injection volumes, daily injection pressures, and total injection volumes were analyzed for a 6‐month period from three available wastewater disposal wells as part of a ‘piggyback’ research program completed in the region to investigate CO 2 storage potential 16 . As shown in Fig.…”