Methane Production From Geopressured Aquifers

Abstract

Several assessments of geopressured aquifers have been performed during the past several years. This paper reexamines an earlier SPE publication I in light of data available from recent research and geopressured aquifer well tests. What has been learned about geopressured aquifers in terms of reservoir parameters is incorporated to narrow the ranges of uncertainty in conducting parametric studies to predict production of natural gas. Economic sensitivity of the reservoir parameters is studied in terms of a reassessment of the capital investment and operating costs in constant (1980) dollars required for a complete geopressured aquifer production system. Test data from the U.S. DOE geopressured/geothermal well, Pleasant Bayou Well 2, are used in the analysis.

Extraction of Dissolved Methane in Brines by CO2 Injection: Implication for CO2 Sequestration

“…Much of the early theory for dissolved-CH 4 reservoirs came from the fact that as of 2000, some 30% of Japan's gas production comes from dissolved-gas aquifers (Isokari and Knapp 1976;Marsden 1979;Doscher and Azari 1982;Doherty et al 1982;Aklbayashi and Zhou 1988;Manrique and Kanecki 2000), near the Chiba area east of Tokyo. A feature of this type of system is that large amounts of water need to be produced to lower reservoir pressure before significant volumes of CH 4 can be produced.…”

“…While the presence of dissolved hydrocarbons, particularly methane in subsurface brines, is well known in petroleum engineering disciplines (Isokari and Knapp 1976;Marsden 1979;Doscher and Azari 1982;Doherty et al 1982; Aklbayashi and Zhou 1988;Manrique and Kanecki 2000;Bassiouni 1980;Griggs 2005), much research and development work associated with CO 2 geosequestration has tended to overlook the role of such dissolved gases as they relate to both the initial brine state and to what might happen, as large volumes of CO 2 are targeted for long-term dissolution. In the CO 2 -storage literature, long-term dissolution is referred to as solubility trapping.…”

Extraction of Dissolved Methane in Brines by CO2 Injection: Implication for CO2 Sequestration

“…While the presence of dissolved hydrocarbons, particularly methane in subsurface brines, is well known in petroleum engineering disciplines [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] , much R&D work associated with CO 2 geosequestration has tended to overlook the role of such dissolved gases as they relate to both the initial brine state and what might happen, as large volumes of CO 2 are targeted for long-term dissolution. In the CO 2 storage literature, long term dissolution is referred to as solubility trapping.…”

The Possible Impact of the Geopressure Resource on Conventional Oil and Gas Exploration

“…(1) dry hole case; (2) shallow disposal of water; (3) normal taxation; and (4) intermediate aquifer area. Figure 5 shows the impact of the production well situation on economic potential.…”

“…3,4,5,6 Because of the marginal nature of this resource optimal aquifer conditions and production methods must be found if there is to be a chance for a company to profitably develop a geopressured aquifer.…”