Subsurface Characterization Strategy for Ccus Ecopetrol

CCUS plays an essential role in achieving the goals of Zero Emissions and Low-Carbon Energies as pillars of Ecopetrol’s Energy Transition. Likewise, CCUS has the greatest potential for CO2 abatement, especially in connection with blue hydrogen projects, leveraging the growth of Ecopetrol, the energy sector, industry and sustainable economic development of Colombia.

This work presents the subsurface characterization strategy applied to address the carbon-neutrality challenges of key projects in the energy transition, such as blue hydrogen production and enhanced oil recovery with air injection. These projects require not only storage but also adding value through CO2-EOR.

The subsurface characterization strategy includes, among others, (1) the selection of CCUS technologies according to their maturity level (TRL); (2) the cluster approach; (3) the uncertainty reduction methodology for geological storage in pore space and EOR-CO2; and (4) the evaluation methodology focusing on subsurface fundamentals and the project ecosystem. The technologies prioritized based on their TRL greater than 7 are (1) Storage in depleted reservoirs, (2) Storage associated with EOR, and (3) Geological dedicated storage. The subsurface evaluation methodology includes the analysis of storage capacity, injectivity estimation, and containment analysis in wells, faults and seal rock. On the other hand, an implementation strategy is proposed focusing on geological storage and CO2-EOR technologies, such as WAG-CO2, Carbonated Water and CO2 injection. Finally, critical factors for the successful implementation of CCUS projects in Ecopetrol are presented.

The aspiration is to make CCUS a sustainable solution that generates value and becomes a reference at the national and international levels, in geological dedicated storage and EOR-CO2 solutions. Following this methodology, viable candidates for the storage of more than 130 MTON CO2 have been identified, and the potential of EOR-CO2 has been estimated as an opportunity to add value by incorporating low emissions contingent resources and reserves.