An integrated decision support system for management of CO2 geologic storage in the Weyburn Field

Geologic storage of CO2 in depleted oil reservoirs is considered to be an effective approach for both facilitating GHG sequestration and enhancing oil recovery. However, as a potential problem in the long run, risks associated with geological storage of CO2, such as leakage to the groundwater and atmosphere, might pose significant threats to local communities and surrounding environment. Identification and evaluation of such risks are essential for the long-term management of CO2 storage. Doing so requires a set of advanced technologies in order to well understand the long-range transportation of CO2 and its impact mechanisms. This study developed an integrated decision support framework for the Weyburn Field. This system included modules of data management, inexact hybrid numerical simulation, optimization for CO2 EOR processes, hybrid fuzzy-stochastic risk assessment, and post-modeling analysis. A user-friendly interface was designed through visual language programming. Such an effort would provide project managers with a collection of measures for analyzing and visualizing operations and development of different applicable technologies. Valuable information can be provided to EOR project operators about what might be required for new projects or project expansions and how to go about gathering and using the data they will need.