Co₂ Injection (CO₂Inj): Geological storage of CO₂ into depleted oil reservoir is a CO₂ mitigation strategy that might prove to be both environmentally safe and economically feasible. Although oil reservoirs have lower capacity than aquifers for geological CO₂ sequestration, they are most likely to be implemented first because of a number of reasons including additional economic benefit through EOR, existence of abundant characterisation data and utilising at least part of the existing infrastructure.

Despite a significant amount of research carried out on CO₂ injection, the interactions between CO₂ and residual oil and the actual mechanisms by which residual oil might become mobilised during CO₂ injection is not yet fully understood. This knowledge is essential for economic evaluation of CO₂ sequestration and also for the prediction of migration and ultimate fate of CO₂ after being injected into a depleted oil reservoir.

This project investigates the process of CO₂ injection in a depleted oil reservoir with a view to maximising both CO₂ storage and additional oil recovery potential. Here we target both micro-scale and macro-scale parameters, which could have a significant impact on the outcome of a large-scale CO₂ injection project carried out in a depleted oil reservoir. The domain of the project includes both conventional and fractured reservoirs for which effects of wettability, rock modification, initial saturation, injection strategy, etc will be studied in both experimental and simulation directions. The results will improve our understanding of the geological storage of CO₂ in depleted oil reservoirs and the extent of additional oil recovery that can be attained.

The research objectives are to be achieved by conducting flow visualisation experiments using high pressure micromodel, core flood tests at ambient and reservoir temperature, network modelling and numerical simulation. The core flow studies are performed using high pressure coreflood rig with X-ray device for reservoir condition experiments, low pressure coreflood rig with CT-scan for ambient conditions. An experimental fracture model will be used to extent the research to fractured reservoirs. The phase behaviour studies will be performed using High-pressure IFT and wetting angle instruments and high-pressure phase behaviour cell for asphaltene studies.

For more information about the project please contact Mehran Sohrabi.