The impact of heterogeneity on the capillary trapping of CO2 in the Captain Sandstone
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Published version
Author(s)
Harris, Catrin
Jackson, Samuel J
Benham, Graham P
Krevor, Samuel
Muggeridge, Ann H
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A significant uncertainty which remains for CO2 sequestration, is the effect of natural geological heterogeneities
and hysteresis on capillary trapping over different length scales. This paper uses laboratory data measured in
cores from the Goldeneye formation of the Captain D Sandstone, North Sea in 1D numerical simulations to
evaluate the potential capillary trapping from natural rock heterogeneities across a range of scales, from cm to
65m. The impact of different geological realisations, as well as uncertainty in petrophysical properties, on the
amount of capillary heterogeneity trapping is estimated. In addition, the validity of upscaling trapping characteristics in terms of the Land trapping parameter is assessed. The numerical models show that the capillary
heterogeneity trapped CO2 saturation may vary between 0 and 14% of the total trapped saturation, depending
upon the geological realisation and petrophysical uncertainty. When upscaling the Land model from core-scale
experimental data, using the maximum experimental Land trapping parameter could increase the expected
heterogeneity trapping by a factor of 3. Conversely, depending on the form of the imbibition capillary pressure
curve used in the numerical model, including capillary pressure hysteresis may reduce the heterogeneity trapping by up to 70%.
and hysteresis on capillary trapping over different length scales. This paper uses laboratory data measured in
cores from the Goldeneye formation of the Captain D Sandstone, North Sea in 1D numerical simulations to
evaluate the potential capillary trapping from natural rock heterogeneities across a range of scales, from cm to
65m. The impact of different geological realisations, as well as uncertainty in petrophysical properties, on the
amount of capillary heterogeneity trapping is estimated. In addition, the validity of upscaling trapping characteristics in terms of the Land trapping parameter is assessed. The numerical models show that the capillary
heterogeneity trapped CO2 saturation may vary between 0 and 14% of the total trapped saturation, depending
upon the geological realisation and petrophysical uncertainty. When upscaling the Land model from core-scale
experimental data, using the maximum experimental Land trapping parameter could increase the expected
heterogeneity trapping by a factor of 3. Conversely, depending on the form of the imbibition capillary pressure
curve used in the numerical model, including capillary pressure hysteresis may reduce the heterogeneity trapping by up to 70%.
Date Issued
2021-12-01
Date Acceptance
2021-10-21
Citation
International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2021, 112, pp.1-12
ISSN
1750-5836
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1
End Page
12
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Volume
112
Copyright Statement
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Sponsor
BP International Limited
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000718450500002&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
CW148775
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Energy & Fuels
Engineering, Environmental
Engineering, Chemical
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Engineering
CO2 Sequestration
Capillary trapping
Heterogeneity
Imbibition
SMALL-SCALE HETEROGENEITY
RELATIVE PERMEABILITY
MULTIPHASE FLOW
2-PHASE FLOW
PRESSURE
STORAGE
RESERVOIRS
HYSTERESIS
DRAINAGE
BEHAVIOR
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 103511
Date Publish Online
2021-11-06