Integrated feasibility CCS study: From screening to surface facilities – Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, Colombia

Decarbonizations efforts in Colombia are supported by its national company Ecopetrol. Ecopetrol is acting to deploy Carbon Capture and Storage (CSS) processes in areas identified as emissions clusters. Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (MMVISUAL BASIC EXPRESS) contains an important oil & gas industry. This study will focus on the Barrancabermeja refinery which produces ∼2MT/Y of CO2.

This study integrates almost the full CCS chain: first a basin screening was conducted allowing site selection for modelling CO2 injection and simulation and concluding with installation design. Firstly, aiming at identifying the most prospective geological unit complexes, a basin screening analysis was conducted on the full MMVISUAL BASIC EXPRESS. An injection site was selected using quick trap and closure assessment assisted by subsurface modelling. This phase was followed directly by CO2 injectivity simulation, plume modelling and geomechanical analysis. These different assessments allow to evaluate conformance and containment, as well as potential interference with surrounding fields. Finally, according to previous results, an installation surface design from refinery to injection site has been elaborated.

To deepen this study, sensitivity analysis has been realized according to injectivity and perturbation intensity within surrounding fields. To finish, a final economic evaluation was performed on the complete study using all previously cited elements.