About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Special Volumes

Abstract

Sorensen, J. A., S. A. Smith, A. A. Dobroskok, W. D. Peck, M. L. Belobraydic, J. J. Kringstad, and Z.-W. Zeng, 2009, Carbon dioxide storage potential of the Broom Creek Formation in North Dakota: A case study in site characterization for large-scale sequestration, in M. Grobe, J. C. Pashin, and R. L. Dodge, eds., Carbon dioxide sequestration in geological media—State of the science: AAPG Studies in Geology 59, p. 279296.

DOI:10.1306/13171244St593378

Copyright copy2009 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Carbon Dioxide Storage Potential of the Broom Creek Formation in North Dakota: A Case Study in Site Characterization for Large-Scale Sequestration

James A. Sorensen,1 Steven A. Smith,2 Anastasia A. Dobroskok,3 Matthew L. Belobraydic,4 Wesley D. Peck,5 Justin J. Kringstad,6 Zheng-Wen Zeng7

1Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.A.
2Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.A.
3Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.A.
4University of North Dakota Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.A.
5Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.A.
6University of North Dakota Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.A.
7University of North Dakota Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.A.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report was prepared with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory Cooperative Agreement DE-FC26-05NT42592. However, any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Energy. This research was also partly supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation through North Dakota EPSCoR (EPS-0447679) and the University of North Dakota. The authors appreciate the generous help from these agencies and organizations.

ABSTRACT

Future fossil-fuel-based energy production facilities may include carbon management strategies as part of their overall operational plans. Geologic formations, such as saline systems, oil fields, and coal seams, appear to have significant capacity to store carbon dioxide (CO2), provided that they have adequate porosity, permeability, temperature and pressure conditions, and competent seals. As part of the conceptual design phase of a proposed near-zero emission coal-fired power plant in southwestern North Dakota, the Broom Creek Formation was identified as a potential sink for large-scale CO2 sequestration. The Pennsylvanian–Permian Broom Creek Formation is a laterally extensive sandstone at the top of the Minnelusa saline aquifer system, which is capped by the Opeche Formation, an anhydritic shale. A wide variety of previously generated data, including well logs, core analysis, water analysis, and other published data, were used to conduct a detailed characterization of an area of the Broom Creek Formation in the immediate vicinity of the proposed power plant location. These data were used to estimate injection rates and predict plume size and migration tendencies. The results of the exercise suggest that a minimum of 50 mmt of CO2 could be stored in an area no larger than 15 mi2 (2.5 km2) over an injection period of 30 yr. This case study describes an approach that can be applied to conduct reconnaissance-level, site-specific characterizations of geologic formations for the purpose of large-scale CO2 sequestration.

Pay-Per-View Purchase Options

The article is available through a document delivery service. Explain these Purchase Options.

Watermarked PDF Document: $14
Open PDF Document: $24