Theoretical modelling of the effect of salt precipitation on CO2 injectivity

Abstract

Since the industrial revolution we have produced more carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is greenhouse gas which contributes to global warming. Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) has been working on technical solutions that will capture carbon dioxide, which is being produced as a product of industrialization. This captured carbon dioxide will be transported to suited storage areas. These storage areas can be geological formation, often old oil & gas reservoirs. For the CCS to safely store the carbon dioxide, it needs to be transported to the location, and then injected into the reservoir. Injection requires knowledge, as the deposition sites can be more than a kilometer below the ground.

This thesis will focus on creating a model to simulate CO2-injection. The model is created in MATLAB, and will simulate problems such as: colloidal fine particles and salt precipitation. This model will help to understand how a rock formation act during injection. Absolute permeabilities and relative imjectivity are the key results that will be measured by this model.