Injectivity of carbon dioxide in the St. Lawrence Platform, Quebec (Canada): A sensitivity study

Injectivity of CO2 in the Bécancour deep saline aquifers, St. Lawrence Platform (Québec), was investigated using 2D radial numerical simulations with TOUGH2/ECO2N. In order to have an appropriate choice for the CO2 injection rate and the duration of injection, sensitivity analyses were carried out, considering different values of hydrodynamic, chemical‐petrophysical, and geometric parameters affecting CO2 injection in a brine reservoir. The parameterization analysis for capillary pressure and relative permeability models indicated large uncertainty for this case study. Simulations took into account Bécancour reservoir conditions in which the maximum pressure was limited to the fracturing pressure. The sensitivity analysis provides guidance on potential injection scenarios. To remain below fracturing pressure, intermittent 5‐year injection periods can be used, with a mass injection rate up to ∼ 20 kg/s, alternating with half‐year periods without injection. This scenario could give maximum CO2 storage in the aquifer. CO2 storage capacities in different phases were calculated versus time. This study shows that the northeastern reservoir block of the Bécancour area could host about 10 Mt CO2, which represents 15% to 50% of regional yearly CO2 emissions during about 60 and 20 years for the case of the injection formation permeability of 0.89 × 10−15 m2 and 4.17 × 10−15 m2, respectively. Finally, this modeling study will also be the basis for the design of a pilot CO2 injection test at the study site. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd