Session: 10-09-01: Multiphase Flows and Applications

Paper Number: 116565

116565 - Flow Characterization of Pure Co2 and Impure Co2 Under Varied Boundary Conditions in Pipes and Wellbores for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Projects 

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is a critical component in the global efforts to achieve the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The adoption of CCUS technology could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus mitigating the effects of climate change and enabling the development of a more sustainable energy system. CCUS involves the capture of carbon dioxide emissions and their subsequent storage in subsurface formations, a process that requires an understanding of the feasibility of CO2 transportation, as well as the risks involved in the transportation and injection of CO2 into subsurface formations. To facilitate CCUS, it is essential to conduct detailed investigations of CO2 transportation feasibility and identify potential risks to ensure safe and effective CO2 injection. This process involves the characterization of flow behavior and pressure drop along the transportation pipeline, as well as the evaluation of potential risks such as pipeline and wellbore integrity issues. In this study, we conducted comprehensive computational analyses to investigate the flow behavior of CO2 in surface pipelines and wellbores during subsurface formation injection, considering the impact of CO2 impurity, formation pressure, and ambient temperature. We employed a full compositional dynamic multiphase flow software to simulate the flow dynamics with high accuracy. We first examined the effect of CO2 impurity on the hydraulic behavior of the fluid during transportation. While analyzing pure CO2 is straightforward, it is often not practical to purify the CO2 completely in real-world CCUS applications. Thus, we compared the hydraulic behavior of pure CO2 and CO2 with impurities. Our preliminary results indicated that the impurity had an impact on the fluid's transportation hydraulics. We also investigated the impact of different formation pressures on the fluid's hydraulic behavior during injection. The results revealed that formation pressure had a significant effect on the fluid's hydraulic behavior, suggesting that it is an important parameter to consider in designing surface equipment and facilities. Furthermore, we performed a sensitivity analysis on the impact of ambient temperature on the fluid's hydraulic behavior. The temperature is an important parameter to consider because it affects the phase behavior of the fluid and, therefore, its hydraulic behavior. Our preliminary results suggested that higher ambient temperatures are favorable for CCUS transportation and injection. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the behavior of CO2 during transportation and injection, as well as the impact of various parameters such as impurity, formation pressure, and ambient temperature. By understanding these factors, we can design more efficient and effective CCUS systems that are both safe and feasible.

Presenting Author: Mujgan Guner SLB

Presenting Author Biography: Mujgan Guner is a flow assurance and production engineer with more than 10 years experience in multiphase flow. She holds MSc degree from the Petroleum Engineering at the University of Tulsa.

Authors:

Mujgan Guner SLB
Yao Wang SLB