Dynamic CO 2 Leakage Risk Assessment of the First Chinese CCUS-EGR Pilot Project in the Maokou Carbonate Gas Reservoir in the Wolonghe Gas Field

Jingwen Xiao, Chengtao Wei (), Dong Lin, Xiao Wu, Zexing Zhang and Danqing Liu
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Jingwen Xiao: Research Institute of Safety, Environmental Protection and Technical Supervision, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gas Field Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Chengtao Wei: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Dong Lin: Research Institute of Safety, Environmental Protection and Technical Supervision, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gas Field Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Xiao Wu: Research Institute of Safety, Environmental Protection and Technical Supervision, PetroChina Southwest Oil & Gas Field Company, Chengdu 610041, China
Zexing Zhang: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Danqing Liu: School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-23

Abstract: Existing CO 2 leakage risk assessment frameworks for CO 2 capture, geological storage and utilization (CCUS) projects face limitations due to subjective biases and poor adaptability to long-term scale sequestration. This study proposed a dynamic risk assessment method for CO 2 leakage based on a timeliness analysis of different leakage paths and accurate time-dependent numerical simulations, and it was applied to the first CO 2 enhanced gas recovery (CCUS-EGR) pilot project of China in the Maokou carbonate gas reservoir in the Wolonghe gas field. A 3D geological model of the Maokou gas reservoir was first developed and validated. The CO 2 leakage risk under different scenarios including wellbore failure, caprock fracturing, and new fracture activation were evaluated. The dynamic CO 2 leakage risk of the CCUS-EGR project was then quantified using the developed method and numerical simulations. The results revealed that the CO 2 leakage risk was observed to be the most pronounced when the caprock integrity was damaged by faults or geologic activities. This was followed by leakage caused by wellbore failures. However, fracture activation in the reservoir plays a neglected role in CO 2 leakage. The CO 2 leakage risk and critical risk factors dynamically change with time. In the short term (at 5 years), the project has a low risk of CO 2 leakage, and well stability and existing faults are the major risk factors. In the long term (at 30 years), special attention should be paid to the high permeable area due to its high CO 2 leakage risk. Factors affecting the spatial distribution of CO 2 , such as the reservoir permeability and porosity, alternately dominate the leakage risk. This study established a method bridging gaps in the ability to accurately predict long-term CO 2 leakage risks and provides a valuable reference for the security implementation of other similar CCUS-EGR projects.

Keywords: CO 2 leakage; risk assessment; CCUS-EGR; numerical simulation; Wolonghe gas field (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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