GEO-SEQ

Task 2. Deploy and evaluate MMV and simulation technologies at the Otway Basin Demonstration Site in Australia

The GEO-SEQ team is participating in the upcoming demonstration project of geologic storage in the Otway Basin in Australia. This provides a unique opportunity to gain new insights about geologic storage of CO₂ and improve MMV techniques. The demonstration project will take place over a multi-year period and inject up to 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ in gas and saline formations. The comparatively large mass of CO₂ that will be injected, combined with the opportunity to leverage the large investment in this demonstration project by the Australian government and industrial partners, provides a tremendous opportunity for gaining experience with geologic storage of CO₂ in saline formations. During FY2006, the LBNL team designed a U-tube monitoring system and participated in detailed geophysical design studies for the test. In addition, we initiated a code-intercomparison project to help improve simulation capabilities for storage in depleted gas reservoirs. During FY2007 the role of the LBNL team will be to:

1.   Install and initiate baseline geochemical data collection with the U-tube sampling system;
2.   Deploy and collect baseline geophysical data, specifically, time-lapse vertical seismic profile data;
3.   Help to design the data collection approach and interpret injectivity data;
4.   Develop and interpret simulation intercomparison studies; and
5.   Participate in the integrated interpretation and simulation of the fate and transport of the injected CO₂

Not only does this test provide a unique opportunity for collaboration, but the injection formation is not unlike many potential storage formations present in the U.S.