Geological Society of America

28 Fundamental Measurements of Shale Properties and Identifying Data Gaps

Monday, 20 March 2017
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Monongahela, 17th Floor

DOE SCREENING METHODOLOGY FOR ESTIMATING THE PROSPECTIVE CO2 STORAGE RESOURCE OF SHALES AND IDENTIFYING DATA GAPS

Paper number: 28-4
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 9:20 AM

Authors

Angela Goodman Presenting Author
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA
Daniel J. Soeder
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV
Grant S. Bromhal
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV
Robert M. Dilmore
U.S. Department of Energy, Pittsburgh, PA
Sanguinito Sanguinito
National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Pittsburgh, PA
Evgeniy Myshakin
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV
Scott Frailey
Champaign, IL
Charles Gorecki
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
Wesley D. Peck
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

Abstract

As interest increases in the potential storage of CO₂ in depleted hydrocarbon-bearing shales, the US-DOE-NETL developed a screening-level methodology for estimating the prospective storage resource of these formations. The majority of shale formations are considered to be impermeable layers that act as caprocks for oil and gas or CO₂ storage reservoirs; however, a minority of shales could be considered for CO₂ storage. The method is designed to effectively estimate a range of prospective CO₂ storage resource given the uncertainties common to regional or basin-scale assessments used for site-screening. These estimates can be applied to inform high-level decision making related to carbon storage initiatives. Three criteria were used to identify shale formations for CO₂ storage: 1) hydrocarbons must have been produced from the shale by horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing, 2) the portion of the shale being assessed must be at depths sufficient for CO₂ to exist in a dense, typically supercritical or liquid, state, and 3) a suitable seal system must be present above the assessed shale to prevent unwanted upward migration of CO₂ to surface or ground water. As with all resource assessments, an uncertainty in the estimate of the prospective storage resource in shale is a consequence of the lack of appropriate quantitative geologic data. This work describes the method that was developed for CO₂ storage, discusses approaches to estimate storage efficiency, and identifies data gaps that need to be addressed to improve the geological and petrophysical characterization of shale suitable for carbon storage. Uncertainties include geologic variability in formation thickness, porosity, existing fluid content, organic content, and mineralogy. Knowing how these parameters are related will aid in improving the understanding of pore-to-reservoir scale behavior and provide improved estimates of prospective CO₂ storage.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 49, No. 2

doi: 10.1130/abs/2017NE-291412

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