Geological input to Carbon storage: from outcrop to simulator

The "GeC - Geological input to Carbon storage: from outcrop to simulator" project focuses on CO2 behavior in the subsurface, using information from Longyearbyen CO2 lab as main database. During injection and flow of CO2 in geological units, geological variables such as sedimentary heterogeneity, fractures and faults will inflict on flow paths. The explored case study of the Longyearbyen CO2 lab shows that in-depth understanding of these variables is critical input for flow modelling and estimations of CO2 retention capacity. Since the start of the project in 2010, an extensive database on geological facts has been developed, based in studies of Svalbard and partly Utah. Integration of fractures and sedimentary facies with water injection data into reservoir models have been used to predict flow behavior by simulator study in the unconventional reservoir explored. The geo-modelling and simulator benchmarking highlights key challenges in CO2 storage for such reservoirs, including beyond state-of-the-art methodology. Educational outputs include 7 Masters, one PhD (Kim Senger, December 2013), and one Post Doc (Kei Ogata's fellowship). The activity covers 29 peer-review papers published and a high number of conference and outreach contributions. Many of the achievements and new scientific questions and opportunities raised by GeC have motivated the COPASS project (2015-18; UiO hosted).

The GeC project will perform high-class research and post-graduate education through two PhD and one Postdoc positions. They will be integrated in the expert groups working in the Longyearbyen CO2 lab project; operating in an industry-funded consortium wi th close links to the national SUCCESS and BigCCS centers and the Fault Facies project (CIPR, UiB). Planned activity will utilize the existing datasets of the Longyearbyen CO2 lab, which will be further developed through new data collection. Key themes, with a focus on CO2 behaviors in the subsurface will be - (1) sedimentary architecture and related flow of the utilized aquifer, (2) fractures as secondary conduits for flow in the aquifer and cap rock; (3) faults as baffles or conduits to CO2 flow, and ( 4) integrated reservoir modeling as means to test geological input variables and predictive capacity.