Volume 5: Innovative Solutions for Energy Transitions: Part IV

Numerical Modeling and Economic Assessment of CO2 Storage in Deep Saline Aquifer Based in Uae Mohammed N. Khan, Tariq Shamim

Abstract

Geological carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration is the most sought after method to store CO2 in supercritical form. Of all the geological formations, deep saline aquifer are preferred due to their high storage capacities and wide availability. A saline aquifer based in Shuaiba formation of the United Arab Emirates, situated at a depth of 3000 m has been investigated. A numerical model has been developed in an open source code STOMP and sensitivity of CO2 plume to parameters such as salinity and Corey residual gas saturation has been studied. The results for total CO2 mass (aqueous and gas CO2) are plotted as a function of simulated time. The results show that the effect of salinity and Corey residual gas saturation is significant. The cost of CO2 storage in such deep saline aquifers is also estimated. The source of CO2 is considered from a chemical looping reforming plant producing hydrogen and capturing about 0.73 Mt/year. The cost of CO2 storage is estimated to be $4.58 per ton of CO2 stored. The results obtained are promising, however, more comprehensive assessments are required in order to increase the accuracy of the costs.

Keywords geologic CO2 sequestration, carbon capture and storage, reservoir modeling, united arab emirates, economic assessment, deep saline aquifer