January, 2009
Sensitivity of CO2 migration estimation on reservoir temperature and pressure uncertainty
Preston Jordan and Christine Doughty
The density and viscosity of supercritical CO2 are sensitive to pressure and temperature (PT) while the viscosity of brine is sensitive primarily to temperature. Oil field PT data in the vicinity of WESTCARB’s Phase III injection pilot test site in the southern San Joaquin Valley, California, show a range of PT values, indicating either PT uncertainty or variability. Numerical simulation results across the range of likely PT indicate brine viscosity variation causes virtually no difference in plume evolution and final size, but CO2 density variation causes a large difference. Relative ultimate plume size is almost directly proportional to the relative difference in brine and CO2 density (buoyancy flow). The majority of the difference in plume size occurs during and shortly after the cessation of injection.
© 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: geologic carbon storage, pressure temperature sensitivity, buoyancy-driven flow.
Source: Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT) conference, 16-20 November 2008
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