Downhole CO2 Sequestration with Wellbore Heating and Hydrate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sequestering carbon dioxide in subsurface gas hydrate formations face challenges in maintaining injectivity and preventing gas hydrate formation near wellbores, which can impede the migration and stable storage of CO2.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a heating assembly to heat carbon dioxide to a predetermined temperature (100° C. to 200° C.) within a wellbore, combined with the injection of heated fluids and hydrate inhibitors, to destabilize gas hydrates and enhance CO2 injectivity into geological formations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If CO2 is injected into the wellbore for sequestration, then CO2 storage capacity is improved, but gas hydrate formation near the wellbore impedes migration and reduces injectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent heats the CO2 to a predetermined temperature (100°C to 200°C) before injection, changing the temperature parameter to prevent hydrate formation in the wellbore while allowing hydrate formation in the formation for storage. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining injectivity through temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heating assembly as an intermediary device that heats the CO2 and formation fluids, creating a thermal barrier that prevents unwanted hydrate formation near the wellbore while allowing CO2 migration and storage in the formation.
2Productivity
If temperature is increased to prevent gas hydrate formation in wellbore, then injectivity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating assembly pre-heats the CO2 and formation fluids before CO2 injection, creating favorable thermal conditions in advance. This preliminary heating action reduces the need for continuous high-energy heating during injection, optimizing energy usage while maintaining injectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the heat from the heated CO2 and formation fluids to maintain temperature conditions that prevent hydrate formation, allowing the system to partially sustain itself thermally without requiring continuous external energy input.
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
The method effectively prevents gas hydrate formation in wellbores, allowing CO2 to migrate deeper for stable, permanent storage by maintaining high temperatures and using inhibitors to disrupt hydrate formation, thereby improving injectivity and storage efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Carbon dioxide is injected into the wellbore and heated to a predetermined temperature using the at least one heating assembly. The predetermined temperature ranges from about 100° C. to about 200° C.
Implementation Method 2
The heated carbon dioxide is allowed to migrate from the wellbore into the geological formation for permanent storage.
Implementation Method 3
at least one hydrate inhibitor is injected into the wellbore. the at least one hydrate inhibitor is at least one of a thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor and a kinetic hydrate inhibitor.
Implementation Method 4
At least one monitoring operation is performed to detect the formation of gas hydrates within the wellbore.
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a method for downhole sequestration of carbon dioxide. A heating assembly is lowered into a wellbore within a geological formation. Carbon dioxide is injected into the wellbore and heated to a predetermined temperature using the heating assembly. The heated carbon dioxide is allowed to migrate from the wellbore into the geological formation for permanent storage. A monitoring operation is performed to detect the formation of gas hydrates within the wellbore.