Geology ReportsSearch

Geology topics

Tina L. Roberts-Ashby

Publications and source records attributed to Tina L. Roberts-Ashby.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Modeling geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide in a deep saline carbonate reservoir with TOUGH2–ChemPlugin, a new tool for reactive transport modeling

This paper outlines the development and demonstration of a new tool, TOUGH2–ChemPlugin (T2CPI) for predicting rock–water–CO 2 interaction following injection of supercritical CO 2 into a heterogeneous carbonate system. Specifically, modeling capabilities of TOUGH2, which examines multiphase flow and supercritical CO 2 behavior, were combined with the geochemical modeling capabilities of The Geochemist’s Workbench ® (GWB), using ChemPlugin TM . ChemPlugin is a self-linking re-entrant software object that, when coupled to a transport simulator, retains the flow and transport capabilities of the simulator but enables incorporation of reactive chemistry via GWB. To test and assess the capabilities of T2CPI, results from T2CPI simulations were compared to those of TOUGHREACT, using the same carbonate reservoir parameters (based on the Dollar Bay Formation of the South Florida Basin). Overall, results of simulations from TOUGHREACT and T2CPI were very similar for nearly all evaluated parameters. Dissimilarities between the two programs included qualitative differences in how TOUGHREACT and T2CPI predicted calcite dissolution and the subsequent spatial pattern of the porosity gain caused by how each handles evaporation of water near the injection point. The TOUGHREACT program is a proven, widely used tool for evaluating CO 2 –brine–rock interaction following supercritical CO 2 injection. The T2CPI tool offers similar capabilities and strengths of TOUGHREACT, with the ability to read in and use databases for a wide range of activity coefficient types. This program also has abilities to use a wide range of kinetic constraints, define those kinetic constraints with scripts or compiled libraries, account for colloidal transport, and/or account for a wide range of surface sorption models.

Florida

Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources—Atlantic Coastal Plain and Eastern Mesozoic Rift Basins

This chapter presents information pertinent to the geologic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) sequestration potential within saline aquifers located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and Eastern Mesozoic Rift Basins of the Eastern United States. The Atlantic Coastal Plain is underlain by a Jurassic to Quaternary succession of sedimentary strata that onlap westward onto strata of the Appalachian Piedmont physiographic province and generally thicken eastward toward the present-day Atlantic coastline and onto the present-day continental shelf. Although no significant petroleum discoveries have been made on the coastal plain, the deep saline aquifers of the region appear to contain porous strata (potential reservoirs, or “storage formations”) that are overlain by fine-grained, laterally continuous strata (potential seals), which are prospective CO 2 sequestration targets. For the Atlantic Coastal Plain, we identify two storage assessment units (SAUs), both of which consist of Cretaceous strata. The two SAUs are the Lower Cretaceous Composite SAU C50700101 and the Upper Cretaceous Composite SAU C50700102. The Eastern Mesozoic Rift Basins are a chain of generally southwest- to northeast-trending, elongate sedimentary basins that either underlie the Atlantic Coastal Plain or crop out within adjacent geologic provinces to the west. Similar to the Atlantic Coastal Plain, there has been no significant oil and gas production from any of the basins, although there is a proven petroleum system in several of them. At least three of these basins appear to contain potential storage formations overlain by potential seal units. Most of the other basins were not assessed because a storage and (or) seal formation could not be established in the timeframe of the assessment, often because of the paucity of subsurface data for these basins in comparison to other petroliferous basins of the United States. Thus, we present information supporting one quantitative assessment in the Newark basin, as well as information supporting two nonquantitative assessments, one for strata in the Gettysburg basin and the other for strata in the Culpeper basin. We briefly discuss six other basins within the Eastern Mesozoic Rift Basins that were not assessed. For all SAUs, we discuss the areal distribution of suitable CO 2 reservoir rock. We also describe the overlying sealing unit and the geologic characteristics that influence the potential CO 2 storage volume and reservoir characteristics. These characteristics include storage formation depth, gross thickness, net thickness, porosity, permeability, and groundwater salinity. Case-by-case strategies for estimating the pore volume existing within structurally and (or) stratigraphically closed traps are presented. Although assessment results are not contained in this chapter, the geologic information included herein was used to calculate the potential storage space in the SAUs.

Atlantic Coastal Plain and Eastern Mesozoic Rift B

Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources─South Florida Basin: Chapter L in Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources

This report presents five storage assessment units (SAUs) that have been identified as potentially suitable for geologic carbon dioxide sequestration within a 35,075-square-mile area that includes the entire onshore and State-water portions of the South Florida Basin. Platform-wide, thick successions of laterally extensive carbonates and evaporites deposited in highly cyclic depositional environments in the South Florida Basin provide several massive, porous carbonate reservoirs that are separated by evaporite seals. For each storage assessment unit identified within the basin, the areal distribution of the reservoir-seal couplet identified as suitable for geologic Carbon dioxide sequestration is presented, along with a description of the geologic characteristics that influence the potential carbon dioxide storage volume and reservoir performance. On a case-by-case basis, strategies for estimating the pore volume existing within structurally and (or) stratigraphically closed traps are also discussed. Geologic information presented in this report has been employed to calculate potential storage capacities for carbon dioxide sequestration in the storage assessment units assessed herein, although complete assessment results are not contained in this report.

Florida

Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: Permian and Palo Duro Basins and Bend Arch-Fort Worth Basin: Chapter K in Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources

The U.S. Geological Survey has completed an assessment of the potential geologic carbon dioxide storage resource in the onshore areas of the United States. To provide geological context and input data sources for the resources numbers, framework documents are being prepared for all areas that were investigated as part of the national assessment. This report is the geologic framework document for the Permian and Palo Duro Basins, the combined Bend arch-Fort Worth Basin area, and subbasins therein of Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. In addition to a summarization of the geology and petroleum resources of studied basins, the individual storage assessment units (SAUs) within the basins are described and explanations for their selection are presented. Though appendixes in the national assessment publications include the input values used to calculate the available storage resource, this framework document provides only the context and source of inputs selected by the assessment geologists. Spatial files of boundaries for the SAUs herein, as well as maps of the density of known well bores that penetrate the SAU seal, are available for download with the release of this report.

New Mexico, Oklahoma Texas

Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: U.S. Gulf Coast

This report presents 27 storage assessment units (SAUs) within the United States (U.S.) Gulf Coast. The U.S. Gulf Coast contains a regionally extensive, thick succession of clastics, carbonates, salts, and other evaporites that were deposited in a highly cyclic depositional environment that was subjected to a fluctuating siliciclastic sediment supply and transgressive and regressive sea levels. At least nine major depositional packages contain porous strata that are potentially suitable for geologic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) sequestration within the region. For each SAU identified within these packages, the areal distribution of porous rock that is suitable for geologic CO 2 sequestration is discussed, along with a description of the geologic characteristics that influence the potential CO 2 storage volume and reservoir performance. These characteristics include reservoir depth, gross thickness, net-porous thickness, porosity, permeability, and groundwater salinity. Additionally, a characterization of the overlying regional seal for each SAU is presented. On a case-by-case basis, strategies for estimating the pore volume existing within structurally and (or) stratigraphically closed traps are also presented. Geologic information presented in this report has been employed to calculate potential storage capacities for CO 2 sequestration in the SAUs that are assessed herein, although complete assessment results are not contained in this report.

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Lou

Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: Alaska North Slope and Kandik Basin, Alaska

This report presents fourteen storage assessment units (SAUs) from the Alaska North Slope and two SAUs from the Kandik Basin of Alaska. The Alaska North Slope is a broad, north-dipping coastal plain that is underlain by a thick succession of sedimentary rocks that accumulated steadily throughout much of the Phanerozoic during three major tectonic sequences: the Mississippian through Triassic Ellesmerian sequence, the Jurassic through Lower Cretaceous Beaufortian sequence, and the Cretaceous and Tertiary Brookian sequence. Stratigraphic packages associated with all three of these tectonic sequences are suited to geologic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) sequestration. The lower part of the Ellesmerian sequence contains five potential SAUs, two of which have reservoirs within the Endicott Group and three of which have reservoirs within the Lisburne Group. Another potential SAU has sandstone-prone reservoir units interbedded with the upper part of the Ellesmerian Shublik Formation and the Beaufortian Kingak Shale. The Brookian sequence contains eight potential SAUs that have reservoirs that are defined by the various Cretaceous and Tertiary deltaic topset strata of the Colville foreland basin as well as associated slope aprons and submarine turbidite fan complexes. In east-central Alaska, Kandik Basin is an extension of cratonic North America and straddles the border between Alaska and Canada. The basin contains a section of Neoproterozoic to Mesozoic rocks, which have been multiply deformed during the Phanerozoic. Paleozoic strata within the basin appear to be suited to geologic CO 2 sequestration. We defined two SAUs within this interval, which are the Upper Devonian and Mississippian Nation River Formation SAU and the Lower Permian to Lower Cretaceous Step Conglomerate and Tahkandit Limestone SAU. For each SAU in both of the basins, we discuss the areal distribution of suitable CO 2 sequestration reservoir rock. We also characterize the overlying sealing unit and describe the geologic characteristics that influence the potential CO 2 storage volume and reservoir performance. These characteristics include reservoir depth, gross thickness, net thickness, porosity, permeability, and groundwater salinity. Case-by-case strategies for estimating the pore volume existing within structurally and (or) stratigraphically closed traps are presented. Although assessment results are not contained in this report, the geologic information included herein was employed to calculate the potential storage volume in the various SAUs. Lastly, in this report, we present the rationale for not conducting assessment work in fifteen sedimentary basins distributed across the Alaskan interior and within Alaskan State waters.

Alaska

Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: Williston Basin, Central Montana Basins, and Montana Thrust Belt study areas

The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act directs the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a national assessment of potential geologic storage resources for carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The methodology used by the USGS for the national CO 2 assessment follows that of previous USGS work. This methodology is non-economic and is intended to be used at regional to sub-basinal scales. The Williston Basin of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana, along with the Central Montana Basins and Montana Thrust Belt study areas are adjacent and share similar geologic units. In general, the Williston Basin study area is a wide sedimentary basin, whereas the Central Montana Basins study area contains sedimentary rocks along topographic highs and flat plains, and the Montana Thrust Belt study area is more structurally complex. This report identifies and contains geologic descriptions of nine storage assessment units (SAUs) in Cambrian to Upper Cretaceous sedimentary rocks within the Williston Basin study area. The Central Montana Basins and Montana Thrust Belt study areas were also investigated for this report. Nevertheless, no SAUs in these study areas were assessed because they contained potential sources of underground drinking water; although sufficient geologic data were available, and suitable storage formations meeting our size, depth, reservoir quality, and regional seal guidelines were found. Ultimately, the report focuses on the characteristics, specified in the methodology, that influence the potential CO 2 storage resource in the SAUs. Specific descriptions of the SAU boundaries as well as their sealing and reservoir units are included. Properties for each SAU, such as depth to top, gross thickness, porosity, permeability, groundwater quality, and structural reservoir traps, are usually provided to illustrate geologic factors critical to the assessment. The geologic information herein was employed, as specified in the USGS methodology, to calculate a probabilistic distribution of potential storage resources in each SAU with these assessment outputs contained in a companion results report. Figures in this report show the study area boundaries along with the SAU extent and cell maps of well penetrations through sealing units into the top of the storage formations. The USGS does not necessarily know the location of all wells and cannot guarantee the full extent of drilling through specific formations in any given cell shown on the cell maps.

Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota

National assessment of geologic carbon dioxide storage resources: methodology implementation

In response to the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a national assessment of potential geologic storage resources for carbon dioxide (CO2). Storage of CO2 in subsurface saline formations is one important method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb global climate change. This report provides updates and implementation details of the assessment methodology of Brennan and others (2010, http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1127/) and describes the probabilistic model used to calculate potential storage resources in subsurface saline formations.

Open-File Report