EPA Workshop on Modeling & Reservoir Simulation for Geologic Carbon Storage
Summary
The U.S. EPA Climate Change Division, Office of Air conducted a Workshop on Modeling and
Reservoir Simulation for Geologic Carbon Storage in Houston, Texas on April 6-7, 2005. The
workshop venue was the Sheraton North Houston, 15700 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Houston, TX,
77032. Sixty people participated in the workshop as speakers, moderators, panelists, or general
attendees.
The objective of the workshop was to assess the potential role and application of reservoir models
and reservoir simulation to geologic carbon storage and to provide the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency with information about the 'state of the art' in the development and
application of modeling approaches and numerical simulators for geologic C02 storage. The
workshop informed EPA headquarters and region staff about ways that geologic models and
reservoir simulation might be applied during key stages in the life cycle of a C02 storage
reservoir, from site selection and characterization through injection operations and post-injection
verification of C02 containment.
The workshop presentations discussed areas of new research and data needs to improve the
application of modeling and reservoir simulation for carbon storage. The workshop presentations
and discussion also addressed the role of models and reservoir simulation in supporting risk
assessment and risk communication for carbon geosequestration sites.
The purpose of modeling geologic reservoirs for C02 storage is to predict the long-term
movement of C02 in the reservoir under various assumptions about future conditions. Geologic
models and the simulation of reservoir pressure and fluid flow in response to induced changes
such as injection or fluid withdrawal are well-established tools in oil and gas production and
ground water management for predicting the behavior of aquifers and oil and natural gas
reservoirs. The premise for modeling of carbon storage reservoirs is that simulation of storage
reservoir behavior is likewise an important tool for addressing key issues related to the
geosequestration of carbon dioxide. These issues include:
•	selection and characterization of suitable carbon storage reservoirs
•	predicting C02 movement in the reservoir during injection and post-injection
•	predicting the geochemical reactions of injected C02 with reservoir rock and formation
water
•	verifying the long-term containment of injected C02 and assessing risk of C02 migration.

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