Overview of the CO2CRC Otway residual saturation and dissolution test

Abstract

Residual and dissolution trapping are important mechanisms for secure geological storage of carbon dioxide. When appraising a potential site, it is desirable to have accurate field-scale estimates of the proportion of trapping by these mechanisms. For this purpose a short single-well test has been conceived that could be implemented before large- scale injection. To test this concept in the field, a residual saturation and dissolution test sequence was conducted at the CO2CRC Otway site during 2011. The test involved injection of 150 tonnes of pure carbon dioxide followed by 454 tonnes of formation water to drive the carbon dioxide to residual saturation. A variety of methods for measuring saturation were applied to the injection zone so the results could be compared. Here we provide an overview of the field-test sequence and the measurement methods.