CO2 Sorption and Flow in Shale Reservoirs

Objective

"Carbon dioxide storage in geological porous media (oil bearing rocks, coals, aquifers) has been the focus of attention in Europe for the last decade. The most desirable case of geological storage is when injected CO2 is enhancing production of energy source such as is the case of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) or Enhanced Coalbed Methane (ECBM). Recently discovered shale gas reservoirs Poland might be also a target for carbon dioxide storage. The mechanism of gas trapping in shale gas is similar to that of coal. Gas is physically adsorbed on the surface of porous shale structure and moves with diffusive flow. If the fracture is created, gas moves in fractures according to Darcy’s law and desorbed from pores according to Fickean’s diffusive flow. Hence, if the fractures are created it might be possible to inject CO2 in order to store it in a similar manner as in case of ECBM.
Two issues regarding CO2 storage in porous media are important: its capacity to store intended volume of CO2 and injectivity to receive CO2 at the supply rate. In case of shale reservoirs these two parameters can be measured as sorption capacity and permeability. Shale gas reservoirs are known to be low permeable (0.001 md to 0.1 md). However, permeability of such reservoirs can be significantly increased by hydraulic fracturing.
Therefore, the objectives of this research proposal are: assessing the possibilities of CO2 storage in gas bearing shale and to investigate the possibility of enhanced shale gas recovery by CO2 injection.
For the purpose of the study gas bearing shale samples from Poland will be investigated. First part of the research will involve CO2 interactions with shale gas reservoirs. Whereas the second part will investigate the possibility of enhanced gas recovery from gas shale by CO2 injection in simulated in-situ conditions and artificial fracture. Obtained parameters will serve as the basics for mathematical models of CO2 storage and flow in tight reservoirs."

Fields of science

• engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energycoal
• engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energynatural gas
• natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compounds
• social scienceslaw
• natural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model

Programme(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE-2009-RG - Marie Curie Action: "Reintegration Grants"

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Coordinator