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Laboratory- and Simulation-Based CO2 Storage Resource Estimates for the Bakken Unconventional Tight Oil Formation
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, Sixth EAGE Shale Workshop, Apr 2019, Volume 2019, p.1 - 5
Abstract
The Bakken Formation in North America includes two organic rich shale units that serve as oil source rocks with an intermediate tight, silty carbonate unit that serves as the target reservoir. The juxtaposition of a need to improve Bakken oil productivity with a desire to manage carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants has led to an interest in the injection of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and associated CO2 storage. Characterization methods, including micro-x-ray computer tomography imaging, field emission and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy, and CO2 sorption isotherm measurement, were applied to quantify the petrophysical factors that control CO2 interactions and oil mobility in the Bakken. Laboratory experiments investigated the ability of CO2 to permeate Bakken rocks and mobilize oil. Modeling was performed to history match experiments, and simulate injection scenarios. These efforts resulted in the development of a refined method for estimating the potential CO2 storage resource of the Bakken. Application of the refined method indicates that the range of storage resource estimates for the Bakken shale units is 5.8 to 26.3 kg CO2/m3 rock. Estimates of storage resource for the nonshale Bakken member ranged from 1.9 to 12.4 kg CO2/m3 rock.