Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) in the Brazilian Equatorial Margin: Challenges and Scenarios

Carbon storage in geological formations is one of the main ways to remedy the CO2 increase in the atmosphere ( Benson & Cole, 2008 ). However, exploratory frontier areas such as the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, where data and facilities are very scarce, defining favorable areas for CO2 injection becomes challenging.

The developed methodology allowed identifying the most favorable areas for CO2 injection in the BEqM. However, one of the main obstacles to overcome in a region with fewer seismic and well data is the criteria to define a suitable trap for carbon dioxide storage.

Four scenarios were assumed: i) Injection in the producing field (CCUS-Enhancement Oil Recover); ii) Injection into traps already identified, but not yet drilled; iii) Injection into uneconomical hydrocarbon accumulations; and iv) Injection into already drilled areas (without hydrocarbon findings). Among the four possible CO2 reinjection scenarios, the producing field case (CCUS-EOR) is the most plausible for a frontier area.