Carbon Sequestration
in Sedimentary Basins
Module VII: Weyburn, Sask.
Maurice Dusseault
Department of Earth Sciences
University of Waterloo
Geological Sequestration of C
Weyburn: CO2 as EOR Agent
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The Weyburn project started in 2000 and is
located in an oil reservoir discovered in 1954
in Weyburn, Southeastern Saskatchewan,
Canada. The CO2 for this project is captured
at the Great Plains Coal Gasification plant in
Beulah, North Dakota which has produced
methane from coal for more than 30 years. At
Weyburn, the CO2 will also be used for
enhanced oil recovery with an injection rate
of about 2 million tonnes per year. (Quote)
http://www.engineerlive.com/european-process-engineer/17576/carbon-dioxide-capture.thtml#
Geological Sequestration of C
Weyburn, CO2 Source, Pipeline
 250 MMCF/d CO2:
- coal gasification
 95 MMCF/d
contracted for
Weyburn CO2 EOR
project
 7000 t/d in 2006
 320 km pipeline
 CO2 purity 95%
 CO2 @ 15 MPa
 CO2 RF ~ 0.16
 Total RF ~42-43%
Geological Sequestration of C
Regina
Weyburn
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Estevan
Montana
North Dakota
30-36 cm
pipeline
Bismarck
Beulah
>50 BCF injected to date
Weyburn Geological Disposition
k ~ 10-15 mD
Φ ~ 15-30% Dan Olsen, GEUS, 2007
Geological Sequestration of C
Weyburn Field History
Geological Sequestration of C
Dan Olsen, GEUS, 2007
Injection Strategy at Weyburn
Geological Sequestration of C
Dan Olsen, Geus, 2007
Time-Lapse Seismic Monitoring
Geological Sequestration of C
Time-Lapse Seismic
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Take a survey at time t1
Take another survey at time t2
The difference in seismic velocities,
reflection coefficients, and attenuation
can be attributed to changes in CO2
distribution, thickness, SCO2…
This is a “snapshot” method used also in
Sleipner, Permian Basin, etc.
Also, Δ(gravity, EM, resistivity, …)
Geological Sequestration of C
Simulation, Monitoring…
Geological Sequestration of C
CO2 Storage at Weyburn
Geological Sequestration of C
Modeling Weyburn
Geological Sequestration of C
(courtesy Sask. Industry & Resources).
CO2 Compression and Transport
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Compression requires energy…
Also, generated heat must be dissipated
Is there an optimum p, T for CO2
transport by pipeline?
Are there other options?
What about the steel in pipelines for
higher p CO2 transport?
Geological Sequestration of C
Issues in CO2 Compression and
Transport (Pipelines)
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Compression requires energy
Heat of compression must be dissipated
Avoiding corrosion is necessary
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Special grade of steel is required
Avoiding hydrate formation is necessary
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H2O + CO2 form solids at certain p & T
Geological Sequestration of C