Review on the Mechanism of CO2 Storage and Enhanced Gas Recovery in Carbonate Sour Gas Reservoir

Abstract

Carbonate gas reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin have many complex characteristics, such as wide distribution, strong heterogeneity, high temperature, high pressure, high H2S and CO2 content and an active edge or bottom water. In the late stage of exploitation of carbonate sour gas reservoirs, the underground depleted reservoirs can provide a broad and favorable space for CO2 storage. If CO2 is injected into the depleted carbonate sour reservoirs for storage, it will help to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, and the CO2 stored underground can perform as “cushion gas” to prevent the advance of edge or bottom water, to achieve the purpose of enhanced natural gas recovery. Injecting CO2 into low permeability reservoirs for oil displacement has become an important means to enhance oil recovery (EOR). However, the mechanism of EOR by injecting CO2 into carbonate sour gas reservoirs is not clear and the related fundamental research and field application technology are still in the exploration stage. This paper reviews the main scientific and technical perspectives in the process of injecting CO2 into carbonate sour gas reservoirs for storage and enhancing gas recovery.