FIELD EXPERIMENT OF ECBM-CO_2 IN THE UPPER SILESIAN BASIN OF POLAND (RECOPOL)

摘要

The RECOPOL project is an EC-funded research and demonstration project to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of storing CO_2 permanently in subsurface coal seams. The main aim is to demonstrate that CO_2 injection in coal under European conditions is feasible and that CO_2 storage is a safe and permanent solution before it can be applied on a larger scale in a socially acceptable way. An international consortium of research institutes, universities and industrial partners is carrying out the project activities. This is the first field demonstration experiment of its kind in Europe. The development of the pilot site in the Upper Silesian Basin in Poland began in summer 2003. One of the existing coalbed methane wells was cleaned up, repaired and put back into production. As RECOPOL is a research project it was possible to optimize the pilot in order to maximize the understanding of the sequestration process to be gained from the tests. A new injection well was drilled at 150 m from the production well. After completion of the well with casing, cementing and perforations, the perforated zones were tested. A baseline cross borehole seismic survey was carried out for monitoring purposes in September 2003. Activities in autumn 2003 included the finalizing of the injection facilities. Production has started in the first half of June 2004, to establish a baseline production. First injection tests took place in the first week of July. Once the injection is stabilized, both injection and production will continue until the end of 2004. During the injection period the process will be monitored directly and indirectly to assess any potential, although unlikely, leakage of CO_2 to the surface. Along with the field tests, an extensive laboratory programme is carried out, and a socio-economic evaluation of the project is performed.