Numerical simulation study of CO2 storage capacity in Deep Saline aquifers

Abstract

The storage of supercritical CO2 in deep saline aquifers is essential for reducing carbon emissions, and the selection of an appropriate reservoir is a primary consideration for carbon sequestration. To investigate the impact of reservoir physical properties on the CO2 storage capacity of saline aquifers, this study establishes a numerical simulation model of CO2 storage in deep saline aquifers and utilizes the MRST toolbox to solve it by the finite volume method. The research thoroughly analyzes the influence of reservoir physical properties on the CO2 migration process and CO2 storage capacity of the saline aquifer layer. The results show that prolonged CO2 injection involves a process of initially suppressing pressure and subsequently slowly diffusing it to the surroundings. Furthermore, the physical properties of the reservoir and the reservoir pressure significantly influence CO2 burial in deep saline aquifers. Higher reservoir permeability and deeper burial depth result in enhanced CO2 storage and faster CO2 plume migration. However, the porosity and temperature of the reservoir have a negligible impact on CO2 storage. Our research work provides a precise understanding of selecting suitable layers for CO2 storage in deep saline aquifers, offering strong support for early predictions of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).