Site assessment update at Weyburn-Midale CO_2 sequestration project, Saskatchewan, Canada: new results at an active CO_2 sequestration site

摘要

The Weyburn Field, operated by Cenovus Energy, currently contains the largest amount of anthropogenic CO_2 injected and geologically stored in the world, with over 16 million tonnes of CO_2 sequestered as of June 2010. The IEA GHG Weyburn-Midale CO_2 Monitoring and Storage Project is in its Final Stage of research and is focused on building on the results developed in Phase 1 of this study to provide a further understanding of parameters required to develop, implement and regulate carbon storage sites. One aspect of geological characterization of the storage site in this phase of research is to further develop the geological model used in Phase 1 by adding more wells and including several geological units not incorporated into the geological model of Phase 1. Additionally, improvements into the quantification of regional flow directions in and around the active CO_2 injection site by using hydrologic data (pressure tests and hydrochemistry analyses) not included in the original model. These stratigraphic, pressure, hydrochemical and temperature data of flow units in a 1865 km~2 area around the Weyburn Field will better define fluid movement in the injection site and assist with long-term modeling of the fate of injected CO_2.