Impact assessment of interlayers on geological storage of carbon dioxide in Songliao Basin

Abstract

Reservoirs in the Songliao Basin are characterized by strong heterogeneity, which increases the difficulty of exact reservoir prediction. The clay interlayer developed in the reservoir is an important factor affecting the heterogeneity of the reservoir. Using the reservoir numerical simulation technology, an attempt has been made to investigate the storage efficiency during CO2 sequestration in Songliao Basin considering different types of interlayer in underground formations. Results indicate that type I interlayer, with a large thickness embedded between the two sand bodies has function of shunting and blocking to alleviate the impacts on cap rock. The type II interlayer has a small thickness and locates inside a single sand body, with poor physical properties and continuity, which has the same blocking effect on CO2 distribution and moderating influence on the cap rock. The physical properties of type III interlayer are same as the type II interlayer, but it has uneven distribution and poor continuity. In addition, three schemes of perforated zone were designed and their effects on CO2 storage efficiency and stability were studied. For a single reservoir, the scheme I is to perforate a whole reservoir, which is more conducive to maintain the reservoir’s stability. For multiple sets of “single-reservoir”, the scheme II can be preferentially selected to perforate the reservoir section below the interlayer when the injection volume is small. However, the scheme III can be used to perforate the interlayer and the reservoir below that when the injection volume is large. The study is beneficial to provide guidance and advice for selecting a suitable CO2 geological storage and reduce the risk of CO2 leakage.