T366 Approaches to Applied Modeling for Industry and the Public (Posters)

Wednesday, 25 October 2017
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Halls 4EF

AN IMPROVED TOUGH2 MODULE TO SIMULATE GEOLOGICAL CO2 STORAGE IN SALINE AQUIFERS

Paper number: T366-9
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

A new TOUGH2 module to simulate geological CO2 storage (GCS) in saline aquifers is presented. This newly developed module is based on the widely employed ECO2N module of TOUGH2, and it accounts for the partitioning of CO2-CH4-H2S-N2 gas mixtures and brine between the aqueous and gas phases. Simple but robust thermophysical correlations are used to obtain density, viscosity, and enthalpy of the gas phase. The implementation and accuracy of the employed thermophysical correlations are verified by comparisons against the national institute of standards and technology (NIST) online thermophysical database. One-dimensional radial simulation results of CO2 injection into a confined and non-isothermal saline aquifer obtained with the new and ECO2N modules are compared to verify the heat transfer calculations. To verify the multicomponent capability of the new module, simulation results obtained with the new module for the role of CO2 in CH4 exclusion from deep brine are compared against simulation results obtained with the EOS7C module of TOUGH2. Finally, to demonstrate the scope of the new module, injection of CO2 containing H2S as an impurity is simulated and compared against simulation results obtained with the Computer Modelling Group (CMG) reservoir simulation software. The comparisons show that the new TOUGH2 module can successfully simulate the multiphase, multicomponent, and non-isothermal flow of CO2-CH4-H2S-N2 gas mixtures and brine under a wide range of temperature, pressure, and salinity conditions. Owing to its capability to handle CO2-CH4-H2S-N2 gas mixtures and its compatibility with TOUGHREACT, this new TOUGH2 module offers the possibility of developing a new TOUGHREACT module to predict the fate of CO2 in GCS sites under biotic conditions where CO2, CH4, H2S, and N2 gases can be formed.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 49, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2017AM-301581

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