Formation Damage Concerns and Laboratory Considerations with CO2 Injection in Carbon Storage Wells

Abstract As interest in carbon capture and storage (CCS) continues to grow, it is increasingly important to evaluate the impact of CO2 injection on the reservoir. Among the various technical challenges, formation damage is a critical factor influencing reservoir integrity and long-term injectivity. This paper presents laboratory testing methods and evaluation criteria designed to improve our understanding of both the origin and extent of formation damage associated with CO2 injection. To evaluate the formation damage potential associated with CO2 injection, a series of laboratory tests were conducted on core samples representing a range of lithologies and rock qualities. The experimental program included both dynamic and static exposure testing, in which key components such as resonance time and injection rate, were systematically altered. Additionally, core characterization testing was performed before and after testing to evaluate changes and better understand the damaging mechanisms. Results show that there is potential for multiple damaging mechanisms to be present in one lithology at the same time. To fully quantify the amount of damage multiple tests may need to be performed on a single rock type. This allows for correlations to factor in mineralogy and reservoir quality. Using lab data to develop a model can further define the relative contribution of the different mechanisms. By testing multiple rock types, a workflow was developed using standard testing paired with dynamic flow testing to quantify the amount of damage that may occur during CO2 injection. Applying this testing sequence will provide operators with the information needed to mitigate the effects of CO2 reactions in the reservoir.