The Dynamic Process of CO 2 Leakage Along Wellbores Under Different Sequestration Conditions

Baolei Zhu, Tianfu Xu, Xi Zhang, Chenglong Zhang () and Guanhong Feng ()
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Baolei Zhu: Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Tianfu Xu: Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Xi Zhang: School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Chenglong Zhang: Center for Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Survey, China Geological Survey (CHEGS), Tianjin 300309, China
Guanhong Feng: Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: Abandoned production and monitoring wells in depleted oil and gas fields can readily serve as primary leakage pathways for stored CO 2 . The temperature, pressure conditions around the wellbore bottom, and CO 2 concentration influence the phase behavior of CO 2 during leakage. This study establishes a 3D wellbore–reservoir coupled model using CO 2 injection data from 1 December 2009, in the DAS area, eastern Cranfield oilfield, Mississippi, USA, to analyze the dynamic evolution of CO 2 leakage along wellbores. Simulations are conducted using the collaboration of ECO2M and ECO2N v2.0 modules. The study examines leakage regimes under varying distances from the injection well and different reservoir temperatures. The results indicate that CO 2 phase changes occur primarily in wells near the injection point or under high-pressure and high CO 2 saturation conditions, usually with a short leakage period due to ice formation at the wellhead. In areas with low CO 2 saturation, prolonged leakage periods lead to significant pressure drops at the bottom, as well as the temperature as a result of the Joule–Thomson effect. Lower reservoir temperatures facilitate smoother and more gradual leakage. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for ensuring the safe implementation of CCUS projects and offer insights into the mechanical explanation of CO 2 geyser phenomena.

Keywords: CO 2 leakage; Cranfield; monitoring wells; phase change (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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