Recent
GCCC activities for SWCARB Phase 2 include (1) initiation
of groundwater sampling and planning of injection experiment at
the SACROC (Scurry Area Canyon Reef Operators Committee) unitized
oil field; total Phase 2 budget is ($1.2M), and (2) Phase 3 proposal
($5M) preparation.
This
past summer GCCC researcher, Becky Smyth, sampled 21 water wells
within and to the north and east of SACROC to begin defining the
regional variability in groundwater chemistry within various fresh
water-bearing units. The water samples have been analyzed for
general chemistry, trace metal, and stable isotope water quality
parameters at Los Alamos National Laboratories (LANL), one of
the SWCARB partners. These wells plus additional ones will be
sampled periodically throughout the CO2 injection experiment.
The
SACROC pilot injection experiment will consist of several five
spot injection patterns. Kinder Morgan will enter wells in these
patterns and run reservoir saturation tools (RST) prior to CO2
flooding. SWCARB partners will deploy various
MMV techniques before and during the injection. Kinder Morgan
has donated a 3-D seismic volume over the area that will used
to help design and interpret MMV data.
