Where is that CO2 flowing? Using Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) technology for monitoring injection of CO2 into a depleted oil reservoir

A Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) system, along with a five-level, behind-casing pressure sensing array was installed as part of the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) large-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) storage test in a depleted Niagaran pinnacle reef oil reservoir in Northern Michigan. The reef is being monitored during its initial reservoir fill-up period as CO2 is being injected to raise the reservoir pressure for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). DTS data are analyzed with results from the initial injection of ˜101,000 metric tons of CO2, injected between January 2017 and December 2018. This paper discusses the results of real-time DTS combined with multi-level pressure monitoring. The collection, processing, and interpretation of large amounts of data from fiber-optic-based DTS provides an opportunity to obtain high-resolution information on migration of CO2 in the reservoir.