CO2 in the Bowels of the Orenburg Region Can be Stored for a Thousand Years
Gazprom Neft will further explore the subsoil to create the first carbon hub in the Russian Federation.
More than 50 million tons of carbon dioxide can be stored in the bowels of the Eastern section of the Orenburg oil and gas condensate field. It will be possible to pump 1.1 million tons of it annually there. In this case, this amount of greenhouse gases can be utilized in 20-50 years. This is stated in an article published in the publication “PROOil”.
The eastern section of the OOGCF has sufficient volume for the safe storage of carbon dioxide. Rafael Minibaev, Chief Specialist in Geology at Gazpromneft STC, Pavel Gerasimenko, Head of the Product Development Project at Gazpromneft STC, Konstantin Kyzyma, Head of the Decarbonization Project Office at Gazpromneft-Orenburg, and Head of the Geology and Development Program at Gazpromneft-Orenburg LLC » Sergei Makarov.
The Orenburg oil and gas condensate field is well studied. In addition, there is minimal seismic activity in this region. At the same time, the possibility of CO2 migration in the bowels is excluded, the article says.
The reliability of the fault and seals is confirmed by the groundwater monitoring system. It includes an observation network of wells that monitor the state of groundwater under the influence of the main potential sources of pollution. These are automated group metering units (AGZU), oil and gas treatment units (UPNG), producing and absorbing wells.
For a long time of field development and changes in the initial formation pressures within the mining allotment, no hydrocarbon leaks were recorded. In hydrodynamic modeling of the reservoir, the estimated storage period was estimated at up to 1,000 years, the scientists note.
Despite the reliability of natural reservoirs, Gazprom Neft will continue to study the characteristics of the reservoir. The research program includes laboratory studies of core, fluids and field geophysical studies of wells.
The available 3D geological model and the results of the geological study of the subsoil will be used to refine the hydrodynamic model and substantiate the characteristics of the CO2 storage facility. Two structural traps with a total potential of 155 million tons of carbon dioxide have been identified as a pilot injection target. The injected carbon dioxide is planned to be put on the state balance of reserves.
A detailed monitoring program will be developed for risk management. The implementation of the pilot project will make it possible to move on to the systematic formation of “carbon” hubs in the Russian Federation, Gazprom Neft notes.
