Carbon Capture & Storage

Site selection for carbon capture requires broad screening studies to be performed, taking into consideration factors such as proximity to infrastructure, current / in situ reservoir state, reservoir distribution and connectivity (especially where connected to the surface), volumetrics, engineering, and rock mechanical studies relating to injectivity / capacity. The end goal is to identify reservoir containers that are favorable for permanent storage, and that pose minimal risk of leakage during their operational and post operational stages. Regulations are strict, and with many depleted oil and gas fields having often been heavily penetrated, although an obvious initial target, they may not always be the most suitable candidate for long-term carbon storage.

• Model rock physics and seismic behaviors to focus on reservoirs with favorable monitoring properties
• Rapidly assess reservoir / container presence and distribution using seismic and AVO based methods to map lithology from seismic
• Identify trapping configurations and structural complexity and integrity using automated fault and fracture analysis workflows
• Leverage machine learning to directly predict reservoir properties for volume estimation

Apply advanced subsurface characterization analysis to improve the understanding of the geological setting and its correlation with geophysical attributes. Leveraging seismic and well data, our experts meticulously analyze the subsurface to validate seal integrity, trap configuration, and overall reservoir conditions. Additionally, we conduct a thorough assessment of reservoir properties, including porosity, permeability, and fluid content, to ascertain the storage capacity and behavior of subsurface formations expected through the operation life cycle. For depleted fields, an assessment of the post production conditions and impact on geomechanical behaviors as well as potential leakage points at pre-existing wells must be conducted.  Through these comprehensive analyses, we ensure accurate insights for informed decision-making in reservoir management.

• Establish feasibility for monitoring CO2 plume evolution through operational and post operational periods of life cycle to understand miscibility and solubility of CO2 and the associated changes in observable rock properties
• Identify and mitigate against potential leakage risks
• Assess plumbing of the container(s), long-term pressure distribution, risk of recharging and impact to stored CO2
• Understand risk associated with decommissioned oil and gas assets, including numbers of penetrations, cement types, reservoir plumbing, in situ (depleted) pressure profiles and seal capacity
• Identify critical failure points relating to injection and subsequent changes to elastic properties that impact geomechanical stability, reservoir integrity, and induced seismicity 

For pre-injection well planning, GeoSoftware integrates stratigraphic and structural information, seismic, and well data into the geomodel/engineering grid to provide enhanced subsurface model predictions that are critical for development scenario modeling and reservoir simulation. Our approach involves determining the porosity, permeability, connectivity, and lateral and vertical variability of lithology and in situ fluids to ensure optimum pre-drill geological prognoses and CO2 plume modeling. Using advanced geostatistical inversion techniques, the derived models deliver high levels of consistency between geological properties and the pre-existing seismic, providing a calibrated and seismically validated model for use in reservoir monitoring and management workflows.

• Increase accuracy and reduce uncertainty of CO2 plume migration predictions by tightly integrating seismic and well data to determine subsurface architecture and plumbing
• Identify areas of high risk of (mechanical) failure within the context of top/side seal, structural / stratigraphic barriers and impact on CO2 injection / migration related pressure changes
• Improve engineering design by providing high resolution geoscience models and properties to the petroleum/reservoir engineering workflows
• Minimize CAPEX and optimize the development plan through scenario based geostatistical inversion to identify critical flow paths 

Leverage time lapse vertical seismic profiling (VSP) and seismic monitoring to detect subsurface changes and assess the long-term containment of CO2 post-injection. Through advanced techniques such as 4D deterministic seismic inversion, 4D geostatistical seismic inversion, and statistical and machine learning-based analysis,   accurately detect and characterize 4D seismic changes into geological and petrophysical properties that guide decision-making and minimize risks. Our advanced technologies in visualization and reservoir characterization facilitate streamlined comparison, calibration, and interpretation of super volumes derived from multiple time-lapse 3D surveys and 4D gathers. With the utilization of cloud and HPC software architecture, our software delivers accelerated processing times and workflows for efficient monitoring of assets.

• Make critical reservoir management decisions fast using streamlined 4D workflows that identify unexpected subsurface changes
• Minimize safety and operational risks by adapting future injection scenarios based on high fidelity fully integrated 4D reservoir and engineering models
• Identify areas of subsurface uncertainty and develop future acquisition and operational plans to address them
• Maximize stored CO2 potential based on deep understanding of reservoir / container architecture and plumbing