Energy Transition
Energy Transition | Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilisation
The Geoscience of CO2 Storage
This package of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) self-paced e-learning courses will provide geoscientists and engineers with an awareness and understanding of subsurface CO2 storage, CO2 flow in the subsurface, and monitoring of the CO2 storage site. It addresses the key issues of reservoir depth, well design, reservoir lithology, and quality.
EC003 - Fundamentals of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) provides participants with awareness and understanding of the subsurface needs of CCS projects. It will establish basics such as how much CCS is needed to make a difference to global warming and explore what types of CO2 injection have already happened including dedicated long-term CCS projects, pilot projects and CO2-enhanced oil recovery projects.
EC004 - Geological Storage of CO2 provides participants with understanding of geological subsurface CO2 storage volumetrics, CO2 flow in the subsurface away from injector wells, the objective of permanent and safe storage of CO2. It also covers the key issues of reservoir depth, well design, reservoir lithology, reservoir quality, and reservoir architecture. Issues of mineral dissolution under different reservoir conditions are considered.
EC005 - Behaviour of CO2 in Reservoirs addresses CO2 as a fluid phase and the key question of CO2 storage efficiency, the equivalent of oil recovery factor. The course will address the rate of CO2 injection and the role reservoir permeability. The all-important issue of the geomechanical effects of CO2 injection and feedbacks between induced mineral dissolution and rock strength and other rock properties will be addressed. The range of possible interaction between CO2 and both aquifer and top-seal will be covered.
EC006 - Monitoring CO2 Storage considers the range of potential leakage mechanisms that need to be assessed. It will include a detailed consideration of the monitoring strategies available to assure the safety and integrity of the CO2 storage site.
Training Method
This is a bundle of self-paced e-learning courses. Learning materials are structured into short sections, each including interactive text and image content, animations, video, and audio. End of course quizzes are scored to provide the learner with their learning progress.
Course Overview
Learning Outcomes
EC003 - Fundamentals of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
- Understand the role of CCS in CO2 emissions-reductions.
- Develop awareness of the role of geoscience and reservoir engineering in CCS.
- Understand CO2 as a fluid in the subsurface and how it differs from oil, gas and water.
EC004 - Geological Storage of CO2
- Build awareness of the clastic and carbonate reservoir rocks that can be used to store CO2
- Consider the volumetrics of CO2 storage and storage efficiency
- Consider the effects of mineral dissolution by CO2 under different reservoir conditions
- Be aware of issues encountered in the development of CCS projects
EC005 - Behaviour of CO2 in Reservoirs
- Gain an appreciation of the question of the injectivity of CO2 and the roles of permeability and aquifer architecture on CO2
- Appreciate the types of CO2 injections projects have occurred so far, and the ones that are planned
- Be aware of issues related to reactions between CO2 and saline formation waters
- Consider the geomechanical effects of CO2 injection and the implications for top-seal integrity
EC006 - Monitoring CO2 Storage
- Understand the key issues relating to the monitoring of CO2 storage sites
- Appreciate the causes of leakage and how they may be monitored
- Understand the principles of risk assessment in CCS projects
Course Content
EC003 - Fundamentals of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
- CO2 in the atmosphere and options to cut CO2 emissions
- Geological CCS, CCS as mitigation strategy
- CO2-EOR and CCS: fate of CO2 in the subsurface
- CO2 phase behaviour and properties, CO2 trapping
EC004 - Geological Storage of CO2
- CO2 storage volumes and controls on porosity in sandstone reservoirs
- CO2 storage volumes and controls on porosity in carbonate reservoirs
- The risk and rate of mineral dissolution due to CCS, with a focus on calcite in sandstones and limestones
- CO2 storage efficiency
EC005 - Behaviour of CO2 in Reservoirs
- Injectivity at CCS sites and controls on permeability in potential CCS reservoirs
- Relative permeability, formation damage, and history matching for CO2 flow patterns
- The geomechanical responses to elevated CO2 pressure
- The risk and rate of mineral precipitation in halite and water salinity, plus CCS in basalt
- Top-seal properties and stability at CCS sites
EC006 - Monitoring CO2 Storage
- CO2 risk of leakage from CCS sites and borehole issues
- CO2 leakage associated with geomechanical issues
- Monitoring and risk assessment of CCS projects