Mathematical Modeling of the Fate of the Injected and In-Situ Generated Gases in Subsurface Geological Formations

地下地质构造中注入气体和原位生成气体命运的数学模型

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-04051
• 负责人: Hassanzadeh, Hassan
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=746944
• 关键词: Mathematical; Modeling; Fate; Injected; Situ

Risk of leakage of carbon dioxide (CO2) injected into subsurface geological formations and solvents used in solvent-aided thermal recovery of bitumen from shallow oil sands is one of the major environmental challenges. Permanent trapping of these chemicals in subsurface may occur by several trapping mechanisms such as dissolution, residual phase, and mineralization. Recently, bio-derived chemicals such as dimethyl ether with mutual solubility in oleic and aqueous phases have gained interest in solvent-aided thermal recovery of bitumen. In addition, significant volumes of methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide are generated or liberated from oil sands as a result of steaming of bitumen at high temperatures greater than 200oC. While injected solvents for bitumen recovery are partially recovered with the produced fluids, a fraction of these chemicals along with the generated gases will remain in subsurface with potential risk of leakage to the groundwater in long term. The focus of my research is to develop models to study the long-term fate of the injected or in-situ generated chemicals in subsurface. While progress has been made in the past decade, further research is required to develop a better understanding of the trapping mechanisms and gain insight into the long-term fate of the injected CO2 and other chemicals. My research program aims to advance the knowledge of fundamental trapping mechanisms such as convective dissolution and long-term fate of CO2 and injected chemicals or in-situ generated chemicals in subsurface. Of particular interest is the development of computational tools that can be used by oil sands industry, governmental organizations, and policy makers for risk assessment of CO2 and environmental impact assessment of solvent injection for in-situ extraction of bitumen from oil sands. Recently, models have been developed for estimation of the rate of leakage of pressurized brine and CO2 from storage sites. However, development of tools for estimation of the rate of leakage of the injected and in-situ generated chemicals is still very much in its infancy. In particular, leakage models with applications to in-situ oil sands extraction processes are lacking. In addition, finding ways to accelerate solubility trapping of CO2 and reduce risk of leakage by acceleration of convective dissolution requires further research. This research develops knowledge and provides tools that help safe implementation of CO2 and acid gas sequestration as well as informed application of solvents for in-situ bitumen extraction from oil sands. In particular, new insights into the long-term fate of injected chemicals, determination of potential leakage pathways and mechanisms, and strategies to accelerate solubility trapping will be novel contributions of this research. In addition, this program provides training for 5 Undergraduate, 2 MSc, and 2 PhD students.

注入地下地质地质地质地质和溶剂中使用溶剂辅助的沥青热回收沥青的溶剂的风险是从浅油砂中恢复沥青的风险。这些化学物质在地下中的永久捕获可能通过多种捕获机制（例如溶解，残留相和矿化）发生。最近，生物衍生的化学物质，例如二甲基醚，具有相互溶解度在油相中和水相中的溶解度已引起人们对沥青的溶剂热恢复的兴趣。另外，由于高温大于200oC的沥青，大量的甲烷，二氧化碳和硫化氢是从油砂中产生或释放的。尽管用产生的液体部分回收了用于沥青回收的注射溶剂，但这些化学物质的一部分以及产生的气体将保持地下，并长期存在潜在的地下水泄漏风险。 我的研究的重点是开发模型，以研究地下注射或原位产生的化学物质的长期命运。尽管在过去的十年中取得了进展，但需要进一步的研究以更好地了解诱捕机制，并深入了解注射的二氧化碳和其他化学物质的长期命运。 我的研究计划旨在促进有关基本捕获机制的知识，例如对流溶解和二氧化碳的长期命运，并注入了地下的化学物质或原位产生的化学物质。特别令人感兴趣的是开发油砂行业，政府组织和政策制定者可以使用的计算工具，以评估二氧化碳的风险和环境影响评估溶剂注入，以便从油砂中提取沥青。 最近，已经开发了模型，以估计储存位点加压盐水和二氧化碳泄漏速率。但是，开发用于估计注射和原位产生的化学物质泄漏率的工具仍然非常起步。特别是，缺乏对原位油砂提取过程应用的泄漏模型。此外，找到加速二氧化碳溶解度诱捕并通过加速对流溶解的泄漏风险的方法需要进一步研究。这项研究开发知识并提供工具，以帮助安全实施CO2和酸性气体隔离，并了解溶剂的知情应用，以从油砂中提取原位沥青。特别是，对注射化学物质的长期命运，潜在的泄漏途径和机制的确定以及加速溶解度诱捕的策略的新见解将是这项研究的新贡献。此外，该计划还为5名本科生，2名MSC和2名博士学位学生提供培训。