An Evaluation of the Long-Term CO2 Storage Potential in the Priirtysh Sedimentary Basin Using Hydrodynamic Simulation

This study follows the preliminary geological screening and construction of a 3D static model (Phase I), which identified promising deep saline aquifers (Upper Jurassic–Cenozoic) in the Priyrtyush Sedimentary Basin for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). This paper's primary objective is to transition from a static volumetric assessment to a dynamic hydrodynamic simulation in order to evaluate the technical feasibility and operational constraints of large-scale CO₂ injection. A high-resolution geological model derived from integrated seismic and log data was imported into a commercial reservoir simulator to establish the dynamic framework. The methodology involves simulating a 100-year period of continuous CO₂ injection. A high-resolution hydrodynamic model was developed to assess plume migration and pressure dynamics under a sustained injection rate of 300,000 m³/day, which was identified as a safe operational threshold. The findings quantify a dynamic storage capacity of 13 million tons of CO₂ over the 100-year period and project a maximum average reservoir pressure rise of 340.2 bar. This comprehensive hydrodynamic assessment provides the operational data necessary to progress from resource appraisal to field development planning, offering a robust, data-driven foundation for realizing Kazakhstan’s strategic goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.