CO₂ geological storage into a lateral aquifer of an offshore gas field in the South China Sea: storage safety and project design

Abstract

The DF1-1 gas field, located in the western South China Sea, contains a high concentration of CO_2, thus there is great concern about the need to reduce the CO₂ emissions. Many options have been considered in recent years to dispose of the CO₂ separated from the natural gas stream on the Hainan Island. In this study, the feasibility of CO₂ storage in the lateral saline aquifer of the DF1-1 gas field is assessed, including aquifer selection and geological assessment, CO₂ migration and storage safety, project design, and economic analysis. Six offshore aquifers have been investigated for CO₂ geological storage. The lateral aquifer of the DF1-1 gas field has been selected as the best target for CO₂ injection and storage because of its proven sealing ability, and the large storage capacity of the combined aquifer and hydrocarbon reservoir geological structure. The separated CO₂ will be dehydrated on the Hainan Island and transported by a long-distance subsea pipeline in supercritical or liquid state to the central platform of the DF1-1 gas field for pressure adjustment. The CO₂ will then be injected into the lateral aquifer via a subsea well-head through a horizontal well. Reservoir simulations suggest that the injected CO₂ will migrate slowly upwards in the aquifer without disturbing the natural gas production. The scoping economic analysis shows that the unit storage cost of the project is approximately US$26‒31/ton CO₂ with the subsea pipeline as the main contributor to capital expenditure (CAPEX), and the dehydration system as the main factor of operating expenditure (OPEX).

Keywords

DF1-1 gas field / CO₂ storage / lateral saline aquifer / storage safety / project design

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