Pressure Interference: past experience and lessons for CCS

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Presenters

Angela Luciano
Research Scientist Associate II
Gulf Coast Carbon Center
Bureau of Economic Geology
Jackson School of Geosciences
The University of Texas at Austin

Description

Underground injection technologies and regulations have long managed operations that store various types of wastes in the subsurface. However, as the scale of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects continues to grow, pressure buildup and pressure interference between neighboring injection operations are likely to present challenges. The large volumes and long durations associated with these projects can lead to merged regions of elevated pressure that extend beyond any individual project boundary. Historical precedents from other underground injection control programs, including those for industrial waste disposal and saltwater injection, document cases of pressure interference in densely developed areas and show how unplanned interference, largely facilitated by cross-jurisdictional regulatory differences, has contributed to project plug and abandonment.

These concerns are particularly relevant in high-competition/hub regions from the Gulf Coast to basins such as the North Sea. In response, regulatory bodies around the world are adopting a range of regulatory approaches. Some allow greater flexibility in project design while prohibiting specific outcomes while others emphasize prescriptive, upfront modeling and strict containment assurance. There is no single solution, but technical and regulatory preparedness can enable long term and safe injection projects.