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Geologic Storage of COGeologic Storage of CO22
Next Generation CoalNext Generation Coal
Howard HerzogHoward Herzog
MIT Laboratory for Energy and EnvironmentMIT Laboratory for Energy and Environment
October 6, 2005October 6, 2005
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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IPCC Special ReportIPCC Special Report
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)Change (IPCC)
• Working Group IIIWorking Group III• Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture
and Storageand Storage• Accepted September 26, 2005Accepted September 26, 2005• Summary for Policymakers on-line at Summary for Policymakers on-line at
www.ipcc.chwww.ipcc.ch
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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IPCC Special ReportIPCC Special ReportOverviewOverview
Storage of CO2 in deep, onshore or offshore, geological formations uses
many of the same technologies that have been developed by the oil and gas industry and has been proven to be economically feasible under specific conditions for oil and gas fields and saline formations, but not yet for storage in unminable coal beds.
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Carbon dioxide can be stored in several geological Carbon dioxide can be stored in several geological targets, usually as a supercritical phasetargets, usually as a supercritical phase
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Experience and Evolution from Oil & Experience and Evolution from Oil & Gas OperationsGas Operations
• Acid Gas InjectionAcid Gas Injection
• Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)
• Natural Gas Storage Natural Gas Storage
• COCO22 Transport Transport
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Acid Gas InjectionAcid Gas Injection
• First began: Acheson Field, 1989First began: Acheson Field, 1989
• In 2001, nearly 6.5 Billion cubic In 2001, nearly 6.5 Billion cubic feet (360,000 tonnes) of acid gas feet (360,000 tonnes) of acid gas injected at > 30 locations. injected at > 30 locations.
• Between 50 thousand and 5 Between 50 thousand and 5 million scf per day. million scf per day. Compositions vary but many over Compositions vary but many over 90% CO90% CO22. .
• Largest: Westcoast Energy injects Largest: Westcoast Energy injects 28 million28 million scf per day (Sleipner: scf per day (Sleipner: 50 million50 million scf of CO scf of CO22 per day) per day)
Acid Gas Disposal sites in Alberta, Canada. Map provided by Nickle’s New Technology Magazine, September 13, 2002
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Enhanced Oil RecoveryEnhanced Oil Recovery
• First began: Scurry County, Texas, 1972First began: Scurry County, Texas, 1972• In 2000, 84 commercial or research-level COIn 2000, 84 commercial or research-level CO22-EOR -EOR
projects operational worldwide (72 in US)projects operational worldwide (72 in US)• Rangely Field (Colorado)Rangely Field (Colorado)
Started COStarted CO22 injection in 1986 injection in 1986 346 producers, 235 injectors346 producers, 235 injectors Injection rate of about 150 million scf/day (8300 t/d)Injection rate of about 150 million scf/day (8300 t/d) Estimated leak rate of <170 tons/yr out of 23 million tonnes Estimated leak rate of <170 tons/yr out of 23 million tonnes
purchased (<0.001%/yr)purchased (<0.001%/yr) Source: Source: Applied GeochemistryApplied Geochemistry, vol. , vol. 1818, pp.1825-1838 (2003)., pp.1825-1838 (2003).
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Natural Gas StorageNatural Gas Storage
• First began: 1915 in a partially First began: 1915 in a partially depleted gas field. depleted gas field.
• Total storage 1955: 2.1 TcfTotal storage 1955: 2.1 Tcf• Total storage 1985: 8 Tcf Total storage 1985: 8 Tcf
• Volume of 8 Tcf will store one year of Volume of 8 Tcf will store one year of all US power plant COall US power plant CO22 emissions emissions
• Since 1980’s, storage capacity has Since 1980’s, storage capacity has stabilized at around 8 Tcf while stabilized at around 8 Tcf while capacity to deliver has increased capacity to deliver has increased
• Total US consumption 2000 > 22 Total US consumption 2000 > 22 Tcf Tcf
Natural Gas Storage by Type available at http://www.fetc.doe.gov/scng/trans-dist/ngs/storage-ov.html
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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COCO22 Transport Transport
• Extensive network of COExtensive network of CO22 pipeline pipeline stretching nearly 2000 miles, mostlystretching nearly 2000 miles, mostlyin the United States in the United States
• 49CFR195 addresses transport of49CFR195 addresses transport of hazardous liquids and COhazardous liquids and CO22
COCO22 pipelines classified as High Volatile pipelines classified as High VolatileLow Hazard and Low Risk.Low Hazard and Low Risk.
• Canyon Reef Carriers (CRC) pipeline, 1972Canyon Reef Carriers (CRC) pipeline, 1972 Relatively few failures (with no injuries) Relatively few failures (with no injuries) Extends 140 miles from McCarney, Texas, to Kinder Morgan’s SACROC field Extends 140 miles from McCarney, Texas, to Kinder Morgan’s SACROC field Size: 16 inches in diameter with capacity to deliver up to 240 MMscf of COSize: 16 inches in diameter with capacity to deliver up to 240 MMscf of CO22
per dayper day
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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IPCC Special ReportIPCC Special ReportOverviewOverview
Storage of CO2 in deep, onshore or offshore, geological formations uses
many of the same technologies that have been developed by the oil and gas industry and has been proven to be economically feasible under specific conditions for oil and gas fields and saline formations, but not yet for storage in unminable coal beds. … Three industrial-scale storage projects are in operation: the Sleipner project in an offshore saline formation in Norway, the Weyburn EOR project in Canada, and the In Salah project in a gas field in Algeria. Others are planned.
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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COCO22 Injection Projects Injection Projects
Million Tonne per Year ScaleMillion Tonne per Year Scale
ProjectProject LeaderLeader LocationLocation COCO22 Source Source COCO22 Sink Sink
SleipnerSleipner StatoilStatoilNorth Sea North Sea NorwayNorway
Gas Gas ProcessingProcessing
Deep Brine Deep Brine FormationFormation
WeyburnWeyburnPan Pan
CanadianCanadianSaskatchewan Saskatchewan
CanadaCanadaCoal Coal
GasificationGasificationEOREOR
In SalahIn Salah BPBP AlgeriaAlgeriaGas Gas
ProcessingProcessingDepleted Gas Depleted Gas
ReservoirReservoir
SnovitSnovit StatoilStatoilBarents Sea Barents Sea
NorwayNorwayGas Gas
ProcessingProcessingDeep Brine Deep Brine FormationFormation
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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IPCC Special ReportIPCC Special ReportCapacityCapacity
Available evidence suggests that worldwide, it is likely that there is a technical potential of at least about 2,000 GtCO 2 (545 GtC) of
storage capacity in geological formations.
There could be a much larger potential for geological storage in saline formations, but the upper limit estimates are uncertain due to lack of information and an agreed methodology. The capacity of oil and gas reservoirs is better known. Technical storage capacity in coal beds is much smaller and less well known.
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Site SelectionSite Selection
• Reservoir CharacteristicsReservoir Characteristics InjectivityInjectivity Accessible pore volumeAccessible pore volume ContainmentContainment
• Reachable from COReachable from CO22 Source Source
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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IPCC Special ReportIPCC Special ReportRegulationRegulation
Some regulations for operations in the subsurface exist that may be relevant or in some cases directly applicable to geological storage, but few countries have specifically developed legal or regulatory frameworks for long-term CO2 storage.
Existing laws and regulations regarding inter alia mining, oil and gas operations, pollution control, waste disposal, drinking water, treatment of high-pressure gases, and subsurface property rights may be relevant to geological CO2 storage. Long-term liability issues
associated with the leakage of CO2 to the atmosphere and local
environmental impacts are generally unresolved. Some States take on long-term responsibility in situations comparable to CO2 storage,
such as underground mining operations.
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Permitting - CurrentPermitting - Current
• EPA Underground Injection Control (UIC) ProgramEPA Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Created under the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974)Created under the Safe Drinking Water Act (1974) Almost all underground injections must be authorized by permitAlmost all underground injections must be authorized by permit Exemption for natural gas storageExemption for natural gas storage States may receive primacy for permitting – some states currently States may receive primacy for permitting – some states currently
do allow injection into deep saline aquifersdo allow injection into deep saline aquifers
• Five classes of UIC injection wellsFive classes of UIC injection wells Relaxed standards for injection wells related to enhanced oil Relaxed standards for injection wells related to enhanced oil
recovery (COrecovery (CO22-EOR)-EOR) No class specific to carbon sequestrationNo class specific to carbon sequestration Pilot projects have been permitted under the Class V experimental Pilot projects have been permitted under the Class V experimental
well categorywell category
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Measurement, Monitoring, and Measurement, Monitoring, and VerificationVerification
• Role of MMVRole of MMV Understand key features, effects, & processesUnderstand key features, effects, & processes Injection managementInjection management Delineate and identify leakage risk and leakageDelineate and identify leakage risk and leakage Provide early warnings of failureProvide early warnings of failure Verify storage for accounting and creditingVerify storage for accounting and crediting
• Currently, there are abundant viable tools and Currently, there are abundant viable tools and methods, but MMV systems still need to be methods, but MMV systems still need to be developeddeveloped
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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IPCC Special ReportIPCC Special ReportLeakageLeakage
Observations from engineered and natural analogues as well as models suggest that the fraction retained in appropriately selected and managed geological reservoirs is very likely to exceed 99% over 100 years, and is likely to exceed 99% over 1,000 years.
For well-selected, designed and managed geological storage sites, the vast majority of the CO2 will gradually be immobilized by various
trapping mechanisms and, in that case, could be retained for up to millions of years. Because of these mechanisms, storage could become more secure over longer timeframes.
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Storage MechanismsStorage Mechanisms
• Physical trappingPhysical trapping Impermeable cap rockImpermeable cap rock Either geometric or hydrodynamic stabilityEither geometric or hydrodynamic stability
• Residual phase trappingResidual phase trapping Capillary forces immobilized fluidsCapillary forces immobilized fluids Sensitive to pore geometry (<25% pore vol.)Sensitive to pore geometry (<25% pore vol.)
• Solution/Mineral TrappingSolution/Mineral Trapping Slow kineticsSlow kinetics High permanenceHigh permanence
• Gas adsorptionGas adsorption For organic minerals only (coals, oil shales)For organic minerals only (coals, oil shales)
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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LeakageLeakage
• Some leakage is inevitable – question is whether Some leakage is inevitable – question is whether the leakage will have any impacts on HSE or the leakage will have any impacts on HSE or climate (there is active debate on value of climate (there is active debate on value of temporary storage)temporary storage)
• PathwaysPathways Well integrity (cement damage)Well integrity (cement damage) FracturingFracturing FaultingFaulting Permeation and SpilloverPermeation and Spillover
• Leakage rate not a simple logistic function (i.e., xLeakage rate not a simple logistic function (i.e., x% per year)% per year)
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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IPCC Special ReportIPCC Special ReportRisksRisks
With appropriate site selection informed by available subsurface information, a monitoring program to detect problems, a regulatory system, and the appropriate use of remediation methods to stop or control CO2 releases if they arise, the local health, safety and
environment risks of geological storage would be comparable to risks of current activities such as natural gas storage, EOR, and deep underground disposal of acid gas. … Impacts of elevated CO2 concentrations in the shallow subsurface
could include lethal effects on plants and subsoil animals, and contamination of groundwater. High fluxes in conjunction with stable atmospheric conditions could lead to local high CO2
concentrations in the air that could harm animals or people. Pressure build-up caused by CO2 injection could trigger small seismic events.
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Types of RiskTypes of Risk
• Operational RisksOperational Risks Managed todayManaged today
• Climate RisksClimate Risks Liability that can be handledLiability that can be handled
• In SituIn Situ Risks Risks Formation leaks to the surfaceFormation leaks to the surface Migration within formationMigration within formation Seismic eventsSeismic events
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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IPCC Special ReportIPCC Special ReportAccountingAccounting
The current IPCC Guidelines do not include methods specific to estimating emissions associated with CCS.
The general guidance provided by the IPCC can be applied to CCS. A few countries currently do so, in combination with their national methods for estimating emissions. The IPCC guidelines themselves do not yet provide specific methods for estimating emissions associated with CCS. These are expected to be provided in the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories…
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Geological StorageGeological StorageGeneral ConclusionsGeneral Conclusions
• Practical issuesPractical issues COCO22 transport, injection and storage has been occurring since the early 1970’s. transport, injection and storage has been occurring since the early 1970’s.
Tens of millions of tons of COTens of millions of tons of CO22 are injected annually. are injected annually. Further scale up would be required to play significant role in US power sector Further scale up would be required to play significant role in US power sector
COCO22 abatement. All key technologies and practices are in current commercial abatement. All key technologies and practices are in current commercial operation. No “breakthrough” technological innovations appear necessary for this operation. No “breakthrough” technological innovations appear necessary for this scale-up.scale-up.
Volume of the total annual US power sector COVolume of the total annual US power sector CO22 emissions are in the same order emissions are in the same order of magnitude volume of other key US gas and fluids currently injected and stored of magnitude volume of other key US gas and fluids currently injected and stored underground (e.g., natural gas, wastewater in Florida, oilfield brines)underground (e.g., natural gas, wastewater in Florida, oilfield brines)
• Environmental issuesEnvironmental issues Based on our study of analogues, short term (three-decade) and local Based on our study of analogues, short term (three-decade) and local
environmental risks are well understood and can be managed by current industry environmental risks are well understood and can be managed by current industry best practices.best practices.
Long term (beyond three decade) risks are by definition uncertain but no evidence Long term (beyond three decade) risks are by definition uncertain but no evidence to date suggests significant leakage.to date suggests significant leakage.
Best near term course of action is to conduct pilot projects to gather information Best near term course of action is to conduct pilot projects to gather information that will allow us to address the issue of long term risks and uncertainties.that will allow us to address the issue of long term risks and uncertainties.
Howard Herzog / MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
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Contact InformationContact Information
Howard HerzogHoward Herzog
MIT Laboratory for Energy and the MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment (LFEE)Environment (LFEE)
Room E40-447Room E40-447
Phone: 617-253-0688Phone: 617-253-0688
E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]
Web Site: sequestration.mit.eduWeb Site: sequestration.mit.edu
