Central Appalachian Basin Unconventional (Coal/Organic Shale) Reservoir Small Scale CO2 Injection Test

Virginia Tech is evaluating the long-term storage potential of CO2 in coal seams and organic shales by injecting up to 20,000 metric tons of CO2 into these unconventional reservoirs in central Appalachia. This project is designing and implementing characterization, injection, and monitoring activities to test unconventional formations (coal and organic shales) ability to store CO2 economically and safely as well as track the migration of CO2 throughout the injection and post-injection phases. In addition, this research will test the injectivity of CO2 into unmineable coal seams and the potential for enhanced coalbed methane recovery (ECBM) by stressing the coal under continuous CO2 injection for a period of one year.

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Proposed test site location near Buchanan County, VA and surrounding well locations.

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Central Appalachian Basin Unconventional (Coal/Organic Shale) Reservoir Small Scale CO2 Injection Test (Aug 2017)
Presented by Nino Ripepi, Virginia Tech, 2017 Carbon Storage and Oil and Natural Gas Technologies Review Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA
Central Appalachian Basin Unconventional (Coal/Organic Shale) Reservoir Small Scale CO2 Injection Test (Aug 2016)
Presented by Mike Karmis, Virginia Tech, 2016 Carbon Storage and Oil and Natural Gas Technologies Review Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA

Principal Investigator

Michael Karmis

mkarmis@vt.edu

Project Benefits

This injection project focuses on better defining the regional opportunities for storage in coal and shale formations and provides the foundation for larger volume projects in the Appalachian region. Specifically, this project is performing an enhanced coalbed methane injection test where up to 20,000 tons of CO2 will be injected into three legacy coalbed methane wells in Buchanan County, VA and a Huff and Puff test in a Devonian Shale gas well in Morgan County, TN where 500 tons of CO2 will be injected. Completion of the project will demonstrate safe and permanent storage of CO2.

Project ID

FE0006827

Website

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

http://www.vt.edu/