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The University of Kansas (KU), BEREXO Inc., Bittersweet Energy Inc., Kansas Geological Survey, and the Kansas State University evaluated potential CO2 storage sites, including saline aquifers and depleted oil reservoirs, within the Ozark Plateau Aquifer System (OPAS) in south-central Kansas. The study focused on the Wellington Field, with an evaluation of the CO2-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) potential of its Mississippian chert reservoir and the storage potential in the underlying Cambro-Ordovician Arbuckle Group saline reservoir. A larger study of the saline reservoir was undertaken over a 33 county area in south-central Kansas to evaluate regional CO2 storage potential. Additionally, the EOR potential of the Chester and Marrow Sandstone reservoirs is being evaluated. This study integrated well data, seismic, geologic, and engineering approaches to evaluate CO2 storage potential. The project estimated the CO2 storage potential of multiple formations by constructing integrated geological models followed by reservoir simulation studies. The effort collected available data, drilled and logged three new wells through the Arbuckle Group, cored a portion of the injection and confining zones, and performed chemical and physical analyses on the samples. Analysis of the geochemistry of formation fluids was conducted, and a simulation of fluid flow and geochemical interactions was performed.

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Structural cross section showing regional Arbuckle flow units, southern Kansas
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Principal Investigator
L.W. Watney
L.W. Watney
Project Benefits

The overall effort provides insight into the potential for geologic formations across the United States to safely and permanently store CO2. The data is helping DOE efforts to refine a national assessment of CO2storage resources in deep geologic formations. The modeling results from this research effort can be used to help predict the fate and transport of CO2 under an injection scenario and refine overall storage capacity within the Arbuckle formation in Kansas. Additionally, the results from this study help to determine if CO2EOR is economical for this region. The data gathered as part of this research effort is being shared with the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership’s (RCSP) Southwest Regional Partnership (SWP), integrated into the National Carbon Sequestration Database and Geographic Information System (NATCARB), and utilized for the Carbon Sequestration Atlas of the United States and Canada.

Project ID
FE0002056
Website
University of Kansas Center for Research
http://research.ku.edu/Kansas_Center_For_Research