CO2 Storage Plume Stabilization via Polymer Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for injecting supercritical CO2 into deep geological storage sites result in inefficient utilization of storage volume due to uneven 'fingering' of the CO2 injection front, leading to significant loss of storage capacity, and lack an economically viable method for monitoring CO2 plume movement and seepage.
Innovation Solution
The method involves injecting a first composition of CO2 followed by a second composition containing CO2 and one or more CO2-soluble polymers, cycling between gas-like and liquid-like supercritical phases to stabilize the CO2 plume and utilize the polymers' dual function as tracers for enhanced storage and monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If supercritical CO2 is injected into deep storage sites using current methods, then CO2 storage is achieved, but the storage volume utilization is inefficient due to uneven sweep and fingering phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the injected fluid by adding polymers to CO2, transforming it from a simple supercritical fluid to a polymer-CO2 mixture with modified rheological properties. This parameter change allows the injected fluid to better match the reservoir fluid properties, reducing fingering and improving sweep efficiency, thereby increasing both storage volume and utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite injection medium by combining CO2 with polymers (such as polyethylene glycol or fluorinated polymers). This composite material has tailored viscosity and density characteristics that enable more uniform distribution through the reservoir, overcoming the fingering problem and maximizing storage capacity utilization
2Stability of the object's composition
If Composition Swing Injection technique uses hydrocarbon components to achieve required phase behaviour, then CO2 plume stabilization is improved, but economic viability deteriorates due to loss of valuable hydrocarbons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces valuable hydrocarbon components with inexpensive polymer alternatives that serve the same functional purpose of modifying phase behavior and stabilizing the CO2 plume. These polymers are much less valuable than hydrocarbons, thereby eliminating the economic loss while maintaining plume stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces polymers as intermediary substances that mediate between CO2 and the reservoir environment to achieve the desired phase behavior and plume stabilization. These polymers act as substitutes for hydrocarbons, providing the necessary intermediate functionality without the associated economic cost
3Ease of manufacture
If existing storage sites are exploited to maximum capacity, then development costs are reduced, but storage volume is insufficient due to fingering loss
Solution Approach 1:
By modifying the injection fluid parameters (adding polymers to change viscosity and density), the patent enables more efficient utilization of the existing storage site volume. This reduces the need to develop new sites, thereby lowering development costs while increasing the effective storage capacity of existing sites
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly increases the storage capacity of geological formations by reducing fingering and allowing for effective monitoring of CO2 plume movement, thereby optimizing storage efficiency and reducing costs compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a second composition comprising CO2 and at least one CO2 soluble polymer
Implementation Method 2
the composition of the injected stream is changed in cycles to create gas-like and liquid-like states in order to stabilize the CO2 plume
Implementation Method 3
CO2 is stored in supercritical state in the Utsira formation
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of storing CO2 in a geological formation, said method comprising (i) injecting a first composition comprising CO2 into said formation; and (ii) injecting a second composition comprising CO2 and at least one CO2 soluble polymer into said formation, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are performed separately and in any order and wherein said first and second compositions are different.