CO2 Sequestration

Simulation Using GEM

GEM, Winprop and
Builder V.2020.10

Tutorial
EXERCISE 1: Base Model with Structural Trapping
The purpose of this exercise is to build the base model which will be used for the subsequent
exercises. In this exercise WinProp will be used to create a basic Compositional Fluid Model for
input in GEM. Builder will also be utilized in the building of a 2-Dimensional reservoir model.
This first exercise focuses on structural trapping of injected CO2. As such, it does not include
Hysteresis, Cap rock Leakage, Mineralization, or Water Vaporization. Each of these concepts
are applied in subsequent exercises where they are enables one at a time.

Base Reservoir Model Creation

The following is a step-by-step instruction to build a 2-Dimensional CO2 Sequestration model
using CMG’s Builder Tool: Double click on Launcher to activate the CMG GUI.
1. Open BUILDER by double clicking on the appropriate icon in the Launcher.
2. Choose:
• GEM Simulator
• SI Units
• Single Porosity system
• Start date 2000-01-01

3. Click on I/O Control in the tree view.

4. Double click on Titles And Case ID and input “CASE_1:CO2 2D BASE CASE”. Press
OK.

Page 1 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Note on Tree View:
All sections except I/O Control and Numerical should have a red X (Error) or a yellow
warning. This means that there are essential data missing in these sections.
Reservoir Definition
5. Under the Reservoir Section select Create Grid → Cartesian
6. Specify:
• 100 (I-direction) x 1 (J-direction) x 20 (K-direction) grid
• 100*10 in the I-direction box (meaning all 100 columns in the I-direction will be 10
meters in length).
• 1*10 in the J-direction box (meaning 1 row in the J-direction will be 10 meters in
length).
• Click OK.

7. Click on the icon to change to "Probe mode" from "Create grid mode".
8. Click on the Specify Property button and specify the following reservoir properties:
Property Value for “Whole Grid”
Grid Top 1200 m (only for layer 1)
Grid Thickness 5
Porosity 0.18
Permeability I 100 md
Permeability J EQUALSI

Page 2 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 Permeability K EQUALSI

9. Press OK and OK again to Calculate Property.

10. Under the Reservoir Section tab double click on Rock Compressibility and input 5.8E-
07 1/kPa in the rock compressibility box, 11800 kPa in the reference pressure box.
Press OK. Units will be applied automatically. You should now have a green check mark
for the Reservoir section.
11. Now would be a good time to save your dataset. Click File then Save As. Save file as:
EXERCISE_1_BASECASE.dat

Fluid Definition:
The model needs an EOS fluid definition. For creating a compositional fluid model for the dataset,
we’ll use WinProp 2020.10.
12. From Launcher, double click on WINPROP 2020.10 to open WinProp GUI.
13. Click on Titles/EOS/units. Enter comments as EXERCISE_1: CO2 2D BASE CASE.
Select units Kpa & deg C.

Page 3 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 14. Click on Component selection/properties. Click Ins Lib and add components CO2 and
CH4. Specify the reservoir temperature value of 50 C
15. Double click and open the Composition form. Enter 0.001 for CO2 and 0.999 for CH4
under primary stream. CH4 is added so that the gas phase exists in each grid block and
gas phase properties are continuously calculated. Due to this, the actual compositions
being input in WinProp are selected as above. Click Apply Change.
16. Add a form CMG GEM EOS model from the Simulator PVT option from the toolbar
17. Click to open the CMG GEM EOS model data form. Check the options as shown in the
figure below. For the base case, we are not considering the solubility of any component in
brine; hence the solubility option is not checked. We will use this option in subsequent
models.

Page 4 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 18. Save the file as WINPROP_CASE_1 and run the file. This will generate a file
WINPROP_CASE_1.gem with all the PVT parameters necessary to run the GEM model.
19. Exit WinProp and return back to the Builder interface.
20. In Builder click on Components → Import WinProp generated model.
21. Browse to the file WINPROP_CASE_1.gem and click OK. You will see that the
component section is now green. Water Properties still need to be defined though.
22. Double click on the Properties of water option under the Component Section. Change
the reference pressure for Water Compressibility to 13100 Kpa and Water
Compressibility to 4.5E-7 1/Kpa and click Apply then OK.

Page 5 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 23. It is also noticed that the reservoir section becomes red and some more information is
needed based on the imported fluid model and the type of initialization you will be using
in the model. This will become green once the gas composition in entered in the Initial
Conditions.
Rock-Fluid Information
24. Under the Rock-Fluid Section go to Create/Edit Rock Types, then click on the arrow
next to Rock Type and chose New Rock Type. This will create a new rock type.
25. The relative permeability curves can be generated using built-in correlations (based on
end-points) or can be copied from any other source. This option of using correlations can
be found under the Tools option. However, in the present case an existing relative
permeability curve will be used (for cases where experimental measured relative
permeability curves are available).

Page 6 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 26. Open the excel file CO2_SEQUES_RELATIVE_PERM_CURVES.xls and copy-paste the
water and gas tables as shown below. Make sure that the Gas Saturation Bubble is
checked on the Liquid-Gas Table Before Pasting the data in.
By default GEM will use these curves as the Drainage curves unless specified otherwise.
Make sure the Include capillary pressure box is unchecked.

Initialization Settings
27. Next, open the Initial Conditions Section in the tree view.
28. Select Vertical Depth_Ave and Water_Gas system.
29. Under the Init. Region Parameters tab input the following as shown in the figure below
and click OK.

Page 7 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Numerical Controls

30. Use the following numerical controls. This may not be needed for this case but will be
required for more complex cases in subsequent exercises. This will help in avoiding
numerical non-convergence.

*NORM *PRESS 1000

*NORM *SATUR 0.05
*NORM *GMOLAR 0.005
*NORM *AQUEOUS 0.3
*MAXCHANGE PRESS 20000
*MAXCHANGE *SATUR 0.8
*MAXCHANGE *GMOLAR 0.8
*CONVERGE *PRESS 1.E-05
*CONVERGE *HC 1.E-04
*CONVERGE *WATER 1.E-04
*PRECC 1.E-06
*NORTH 200
*ITERMAX 200
*DTMIN 1.E-06

Page 8 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 *DTWELL 0.1
*CONVERGE *MAXRES 5.E-05
*DTMAX 75 (may not be necessary, can go higher)

Page 9 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Well Definition:
One vertical injector well will be added for injection of CO2 into the reservoir. This well will be the
only well in the model.
31. Under the Wells & Recurrent Section double click on Dates.

32. Click on to Add a range of dates. Choose From: 2000-01-01; To: 2200-01-01, by
Year. Click OK and click OK again to the message that appears.
33. In the set STOP column, check on 2200-01-01 so the simulator knows to stop at this date.
Click on Close.
34. Right click on Wells and choose New.
35. Name the well CO2_INJECTOR and be sure to choose INJECTOR as the well type. The
well should be defined at 2000-01-01.
36. Click on the Constraints tab and check the box for Constraint Definition.
37. Under select new (in the Constraint column of the table), select OPERATE. Then select
STG surface gas rate, MAX, 10,000 m3/d, CONT REPEAT.
38. Add another Operating constraint for BHP bottom hole pressure, MAX, 4.45E+04 kPa,
CONT REPEAT.

39. Under the Injected Fluid tab, select SOLVENT as the injected fluid, then specify the mole
fraction of CO2 as 1.0. Click OK.

Page 10 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 40. Now the location and perforation interval for the injector well has to be defined. Make sure
you are in the IK-2D X-Sec view. In the tree view, expand Wells and CO2_INJECTOR,
and double click on 2000-01-01 PERF.
41. Go to the Perforations tab. Add perforations for blocks 1 1 18:20.

All sections should now have a green check mark.

Note on Well Operation:
This course is built around the trapping mechanisms of CO2. Because it is a 2-
Dimensional model and it is the migration and trapping of CO2 that is of interest, the

Page 11 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

injector is to be shut-in after 1 year of injection. In doing this the pressure will not continue
to rise in the reservoir (generally prompting the modeling of an infinite-acting reservoir).
42. Double click on the well in the tree view to open the Well Events form. under the Options
tab, check the WELLINIT option and select ITER from the dropdown list.
43. Under the same Well Events form, Select the date as 2001-01-01 from the drop down list
of dates; under Options, check the status as Shut-in and click OK (make sure to not click
anywhere except on the Options tab after selecting the new date).

Adding more outputs

Over the next few exercises, there are a number of concepts to be investigated and understood.
For this, some extra properties need to be looked at in Results and output recording for these
extra outputs should be turned on.
44. Lastly, go to I/O Control in the tree view and double click on Simulation Results Output.
45. Click on the button under the OUTSRF table and for Grid Information.

Page 12 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 46. Click the Deselect All button then choose the following outputs and press OK:

DENG Gas Mass Density

DENW Water Mass Density
DPORMNR Porosity Change due to Mineral Reactions
KRG Gas Relative Permeability
KRW Water Relative Permeability
MOLALITY ‘CO2’ Component Molality in Aqueous Phase of ‘CO2’
PERM Permeability in Each Direction
PH pH Value
POROS Current Porosity
PRES Pressure
SG Gas Saturation
SGDTHY Dynamic Trapped Gas Saturation for KRG Hysteresis
SGHYS Gas Saturation for KRG Hysteresis
SGRHYS Residual Gas Saturation for KRG Hysteresis
SW Water Saturation
VISW Water Viscosity
W ‘CO2’ Mole Fraction of ‘CO2’ in Aqueous Phase
Y ‘CO2’ Mole Fraction of ‘CO2’ in Gas Phase
Z ‘CO2’ Global Mole Fraction of ‘CO2’

47. Click on to activate the output for well related parameters.

Page 13 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 48. Choose LAYER ALL DOWNHOLE for the well and select ALL for the reservoir.
49. Add another Well Row for Special Variables. Open the Specials window and choose the
following outputs:

The Simulation Results File Writing window should look as follows:

Page 14 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 50. Save the dataset and Exit Builder.

51. Open the dataset in Text editor and insert the keyword INVENTORY-CO2 in the I/O
section of the dataset.

52. Also, Add the following to the end of the Fluid Model section (defined with the keyword
MODEL):

DENWS 1020 **Specifies the mass density of water at surface conditions.

Running the job

From the 2016 release onwards, users will have the option to generate two different format
outputs – the old SR2 format (which contains .IRF and .MRF files) or the new SR3 format (which
contains a single .sr3 file). The new format is compatible with the new results.

53. Go to Launcher and drag & drop EXERCISE_1_BASECASE.dat onto the GEM icon
(version 2013.11 if available). A new window will pop up. Press the Submit Job button.

54. You can visualize the log file while the run is going.

55. When the job is finished, five files will be created; namely:

*.out (ASCII Output File/Text Output or Echo from Simulator)

*.rst (restart file)
*.log (Run Summary/Diary)

Page 15 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 *.sr3 (results file)

The .sr3 files can be opened in Results.

Results Interpretation

The results can be visualized in Results by dragging and dropping the EXERCISE_1_BASECASE.sr3
into RESULTS icon in Launcher.

The injected gas moves in the reservoir and the forms a free gas cap because there is no trapping
mechanism modeled in this case. Because of this, a need to investigate the Cap rock integrity
arises (This is covered in Exercise 4). You can also visualize how the reservoir pressure changes
with time.

Exercise 2- Hysteresis Trapping

The purpose of this exercise is to add to the structural trapping of the Base Model by incorporating
hysteresis trapping. This trapping method uses the effect of shifting from drainage to imbibition
relative permeability curves to trap the non-wetting phase (in this case gas).

Exercise 2A- Basic Hysteresis Trapping

1. Open EXERCISE_1_BASECASE.dat in Builder. Under the I/O Control Section open the
Titles and Case ID window and change the Case Title to CASE_2A:CO2 2D BASE
CASE + HYSTERESIS.

Adding Hysteresis in Rock-Fluid Section

Hysteresis can be added to the dataset by invoking the option in Builder. Hysteresis can be
modelled for capillary pressure curves (for oil-water or for oil-gas) or for relative permeability
curves (for gas or for oil relative permeability).

2. Under Rock-Fluid Section, Double click on Rocktype 1 to open the Rock Types window.

3. Select the Hysteresis Modelling tab and Enter 0.4 for Maximum Residual Gas
Saturation option.

Page 16 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 4. Save the dataset as EXERCISE_2A_HYSTERESIS.dat and Exit Builder.

5. Run EXERCISE_2A_HYSTERESIS.dat in GEM and analyze the results.

Results Interpretation

Compare the results with those from Exercise 1. It will be observed that more gas is trapped in
the reservoir as Residual Gas Saturation (due to hysteresis). Because of this there is less gas
migration to the top of the reservoir.

Page 17 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Page 18 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial
Exercise 2B- Basic Hysteresis Trapping with Infinite-Acting Reservoir

Change to Infinite-Acting Reservoir

In this exercise, we’ll increase the volume of aquifer by using volume modifiers such that the
aquifer will act like an infinite acting reservoir.

1. Open EXERCISE_2A_HYSTERESIS.dat in Builder.

2. Under the I/O Control Section open the Titles and Case ID window and change the Case
Title to CASE_2B: 2D BASE CASE + HYS + INF.

3. Under Specify Properties find Volume Modifiers and set the Whole Grid to 1. Click OK
twice to exit.

4. Enter into the Edit Reservoir Property mode and select the last column of blocks on the
right. Modify the value to be 1e5 for All layers through grid.

Page 19 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 5. Save the dataset as EXERCISE_2B_HYSTERESIS_INFINITE.dat. Run in GEM.

Results Interpretation

Compare the results with those from Exercise 2A. Compare the gas saturation and reservoir
pressures from the two cases. The reservoir pressure doesn’t increase as much in case of infinite
acting reservoir, and as a result, more CO2 is injected. Also, because of the lower pressure in the
reservoir, the CO2 has a lower mass density – which will lead to more upward movement of CO2
by virtue of lower density and more accumulation at the top.

Page 20 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Page 21 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial
Exercise 2C- Water-Over Gas Injection
This exercise is to show how the injection of water over the injection of CO2 can lead to
increased residual gas trapping due to hysteresis.

Adding a Water Injector

1. Open EXERCISE_2B_HYSTERESIS_INFINITE.dat in Builder.

2. Under the I/O Control Section open the Titles and Case ID window and change the Case
Title to CASE_2C: 2D BASE CASE + HYS + INF + WINJ.

3. Add a New Well named WATER_INJECTOR with a Maximum Water Injection Rate
(STW) of 25 m3/day.

4. Shut-in WATER_INJECTOR after 1 year.

5. Add perforations at layers 1 1 5:8.

6. Save the dataset as EXERCISE_2C_HYSTERESIS_INFINITE_WATINJ_25.dat. Run in

GEM.

7. Compare to Exercise 2B.

Additional Suggestions

Page 22 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Try additional runs where STW rate is changed to 50 m3/day, WAG is used, or Water Injection
time is altered.

Results Interpretation

Water can be injected at a shallower location than CO2 injection. This way, water will move
downwards and CO2 will move upwards by virtue of gravity. As a result of this movement and
resulting saturation changes, more CO2 can be trapped in the aquifer.

Page 23 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Exercise 3- Solubility Trapping
The purpose of this exercise is to add to the structural and residual trapping of the previous
models by incorporating solubility trapping. This trapping method uses the compositional changes
of CO2 into the aqueous phase at certain pressures/temperatures to trap it. Solubility trapping
takes a longer period of time to occur than residual trapping and is largely dependent on pressure,
temperature, and surface area contact with a fresh aqueous phase.

Exercise 3A- Basic Solubility Trapping with Li-Nghiem’s Method

Adding Solubility in WinProp

1. Compare to Exercise 2B.

2. Open WINPROP_CASE_1.dat in WinProp.

WinProp can be used to calculate the solubility parameters required (Henry’s

Coefficients).

3. Open the Titles/EOS/Units form and change the title to EXERCISE_3: CO2 2D BASE
CASE + SOLUBILITY.

4. Open the Component Selection/properties form and under Aqueous Phase tab select
the Li-Nghiem's method for Henry's law correlation method.

5. Open the CMG GEM EOS Model form.

6. Check the option of aqueous solubility parameter output and enter the reservoir
temperature and pressure as shown below and click OK.

Page 24 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 7. Save the file as WINPROP_CASE_3A.dat and Run it. This will generate a fluid model file
named WINPROP_CASE_3A.gem. This will be similar to the output from
WINPROP_CASE_1.gem but will include solubility parameters.

8. Exit WinProp.

9. Compare the WINPROP_CASE_3A.gem and WINPROP_CASE_1.gem to validate that

the solubility parameters were calculated for CO2 and CH4.

10. Open the GEM dataset EXERCISE_2A_HYSTERESIS.dat in Text Editor and insert the
following keywords in the end of the fluid model section:

*SOLUBILITY
** HENRYC calculated at 50.00 deg C

Page 25 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 *HENRYC 3.0426710E+05 0.0
*REFPH 1.1800000E+04 1.1800000E+04
*VINFINITY 3.5014918E-02 3.5168231E-02

The Henry's coefficient for C1 is entered as zero so that the simulator will skip the
solubility calculation for C1.
11. You can also change the title of the case to CASE_3A:CO2 2D BASE CASE + HYS +
SOL.

12. Save the dataset as EXERCISE_3A_SOLUBILITY.dat and Run it in GEM.

Results Interpretation

Compare the results between Exercise 2A and Exercise 3A.

Analyze how the mole fraction of CO2 in water changes with time (you may have to change the
scale). Also, analyze the change in water density because of CO2 solubility in water.

Page 26 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

The amount of CO2 trapped as soluble component can be read from the CO2 storage summary in
the EXERCISE_3A_SOLUBILITY.out file and can be compared with the total amount of injected
CO2.

Page 27 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Exercise 3B- Basic Solubility Trapping with Harvey’s Method
1. Change the Henry’s Law Constant Correlation from Li-Nghiem’s Method to Harvey’s
Method in WinProp.

2. Save the WinProp case as WINPROP_CASE_3B.dat and Run it.

3. Opening the file WINPROP_CASE_3B.gem in text will reveal that the Solubility keywords
have been replaced by:

*SOLUBILITY
*HENRY-CORR-CO2

Do not copy the parameter for C1.

4. Copy this in place of the Solubility keywords in the EXERCISE_3A_SOLUBILITY.dat

dataset.

5. Save it as EXERCISE_3B_SOLUBILITY.dat, change the title to reflect the same, and

Run it in GEM.

Results Interpretation

It can be observed that the results from the two solubility methods are quite similar. Harvey’s
method uses a correlation to estimate Henry’s constant, which is more suitable to cases where
there are thermal effects in the model. Since that’s not the case here, the results don’t vary vastly
between the two methods.

Page 28 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Exercise 3C- Basic Solubility Trapping with Harvey’s Method and
Infinite Acting Reservoir
1. Open EXERCISE_2B_HYSTERESIS_INFINITE.dat in a text editor and add the Harvey’s
solubility parameters to the Model Section:

*SOLUBILITY
*HENRY-CORR-CO2

2. Save the dataset as EXERCISE_3C_SOLUBILITY_INFINITE.dat and Run it in GEM.

Results Interpretation

Compare this to Exercise 3B and notice how convection currents are created with CO2 becoming
soluble.

Page 29 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Page 30 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial
Exercise 4- Barton-Bandis Fracture Permeability Model
The purpose of this exercise is to gain an understanding of how to add the Barton-Bandis model
in order to simulate the opening of a conductive fracture through tensile failure. When Pore
Pressure increases under constant Total Stress then the Effective Normal Stress associated with
the rock decreases.

Once the Effective Normal Stress decreases enough, Tensile failure will occur in which the rock
is in-effect being separated on a grain-level, creating channels and increasing permeability. Since
Pore Pressure needs to increase in order for this effect to be observed the model is commonly
placed in datasets in which injection will occur over datasets with only production.

CO2 Sequestration Leakage Model

In this model Caprock leakage due to the pressurizing of a saline aquifer due to injection of Super-
Critical CO2 is observed. A base model has already been created which includes a Dual-
Permeability grid system (naturally fractured) where the fracture permeability is very small (1e-8
md) in order to effectively make it a zero-flow boundary.
1. Load the file GEOMECHANICS_CO2SEQUES_BARTONBANDIS_BASECASE.dat
(located in the REQUIRED DATA Folder) into Builder.
An examination of the dataset will show that this is a GEM dataset used for modelling the
injection of Super-Critical CO2 into a saline aquifer. In order to implement a Barton-Bandis
model a natural fracture system must be initially defined. The Barton-Bandis model will
then utilize tensile failure in “opening” the fractures by increasing the permeability and
allowing for leakage to occur.
This model begins as only being the Reservoir, devoid of any cap rock. The first step will,
therefore, be to add cap rock cells to the model.
1. In Builder put the model into the Aerial View and enter into the Grid Edit mode by clicking
the button on the top toolbar. Choose the first option to restrict editing.

2. Go to the Reservoir Section menu → Edit Grid → Split Grid Plane

3. Split the K Plane of the first layer across the whole model into 13 layers.

Page 31 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 4. Properties need to be altered for the top layers now in terms of permeabilities, porosities,
and thickness. Exit the Grid Edit mode by clicking on the Probe mode icon. Enter into
the Specify Property window. Enter the following values for the new upper layers:
As can be observed, Layers 1-12 are considered the cap rock / overburden zones.

Layers 6 and 12 are sealing shale cap rocks. These are the layers which will have the
Barton/Bandis model applied in order to model the failure.
Layers 1-5 and 7-11 represent two separate overburden zones. In this way the effect of
cap rock breakage on the upper shale can be observed after the first cap rock has failed,
allowing fluids and pressure to move into the bottom overburden. The runtime can be
reduced if the second cap rock breakage is not necessary to model.
5. Next the fracture system needs to be defined in the proper place:
Currently these fractures are defined everywhere. However, since there is no natural
fracture network in this model the fractures should not exist anywhere except where
leakage can occur.

Page 32 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 Open the Specify Properties window and navigate to the NULL Blocks - Fracture array
and specify a value of 0 for the Whole Grid. This is done because the property first needs
to be defined in order to be altered (the default is no null blocks). Then specify a value of
1 to activate natural fractures in the following layers:
5, 6 and 7
11, 12 and13

Press OK and OK on the Calculation window.

An examination of the IK plane will demonstrate that the fractures have been defined as
null throughout the entire grid with the exception of the ones which will be used with Barton
Bandis to model the fractures occurring in the cap rocks.

Page 33 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Adding Geomechanics
6. Now that Flow model is defined to take Barton-Bandis leakage into account,
Geomechanics need to be added to the model.
In Builder open the Calculation and Numerical Options window in the Geomechanics
section and enable a 3D Finite Element Method. Click OK on all the messages that come
up.
7. Open the Geomechanical Rock Types window and Add a New Rock Type. Input the
following values:

8. Add a Second Rock Type with the following Values (Note the change to Drucker-Prager):

Page 34 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 9. Go to the Tool icon (sideways triangle) and select Add New Rock Type by Copying.
Choose to use Rock Type 1 for the copy.

This 3rd Rock Type will be altered to a Barton-Bandis model.

10. Now that multiple Rocks have been defined they need to be assigned to different regions
of the grid. To do this, open the Array Properties window in the Geomechanics section
and find the Deformation Rock Type and Deformation Rock Type - Fracture. Input the
following values for the model:

Page 35 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 Note that all layers from layer 13 onwards will use deformation rock type 1 in both the
matrix and the fractures.

11. Next, in Builder navigate to the Reservoir Section and open the Compaction/Dilation
Regions window. Add a New Region and input the following values:

12. Make a copy of this rock type.

Page 36 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 13. Define a Third Region with these values and then make a copy of it as well (this is done
because a Rock Type may not be assigned to both matrix and fracture):

14. The two types now need to be assigned to their respective blocks. To do this, open
Specify Properties and find the Rock Compaction Set Num CTYPE and Rock
Compaction Set Num - Fracture CTYPE.
Define the following values for these, then press OK and OK on the calculation window:

15. Save the Dataset as EXERCISE_4_CAPROCK_LEAKAGE.dat.

16. Next go to the Geomechanics Section.
Rock Type 3 is currently defined for the fracture and as such needs to be altered with the
Barton-Bandis model.
To do this open the Geomechanics Rock Type window and enable the option
Permeability Change: Barton-Brandis Fracture Permeability (GPERMBB) as shown
below. Enter parameters as shown below and click ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’.

Page 37 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 17. Lastly, add the following initial bounding stresses and stress gradient. This can be done
by double clicking on the ‘Initial Stress Distribution’ option under the ‘Geomechanics
Stress’ option in the geomechanics section as shown below and click OK.

18. Place a STOP at 2005-06-01 then Save this dataset and exit Builder.
19. Due to a known issue with Builder, you may need to make the following corrections in text
editor before running the model with GEM 2020.10:
A) Look for keyword PERMK FRACTURE and make sure it appears after keyword PERMI
FRACTURE (Builder may have placed PERMK above PERMI, which would lead to a
simulator fatal error):

Page 38 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Results Interpretation

In Results, change to the IK Cross-sectional view and examine the Effective Normal Stress.
It should be observed that this value decreases above the injector due to the increase in Pore
Pressure from injection. When the Normal Stress drops below a set value in the fracture (in this
case 2000 kPa) then the fracture will open and the permeability of the fracture should be seen to
increase, allowing gas to pass into the overburden. After a few years of injection, the gas will also
lead to the cracking of the top cap rock, leading to CO2 escaping into the top overburden as well.

Exercise 5- Mineral Trapping

The purpose of this exercise is to build upon the previous models which incorporate residual and
solubility trapping, by adding mineralization due to CO2. Trapping of CO2 by mineralization is the
safest form of trapping but takes the longest of the different mechanisms. One reason for this is
the CO2 must first go into solution before being precipitated in a mineralized form.

Addition of Mineralization Parameters through WinProp

Page 39 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 1. Open WINPROP_CASE_3B.dat in WinProp and change the title to EXERCISE_5: CO2
2D BASE CASE + SOLUBILITY + MINERALIZATION.
2. Navigate to the CMG GEM EOS Model form and Click Select GEM Reactions and/or
Define Polymer or non-Reacting Aqueous Components button to open the reaction
window.
3. Under the Reaction Selection tab select the button Aqueous Species Reactions and
search/add the following aqueous phase reactions (Also Check the Numerical
Options):

The Numerical Method is used for calculating the Chemical Equilibrium Equation
derivatives and Mineral Precipitation/ Dissolution rate equation derivatives.
4. Select the button Mineral Species Reactions and search/ add the following
mineralization reactions:

Page 40 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 5. Click on the Mineral Reaction Data tab on the top tool bar. Add reaction parameters, as
shown in the figure below, and also check the option of permeability variation due to porosity
change because of mineral precipitation.

6. Go to the Aqueous Phase Property Models tab and select the B-Dot Model for
Aqueous Phase Activity Model.
7. Navigate to the ‘Component Selection Properties’ node and choose the ‘Aqueous Phase’
tab and specify NaCl concentration as shown below, in mol NaCl/kg H2O:

Page 41 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Note on Salinity Calculations:
The user can choose the option for calculation of salinity using Cl- or Na+ ions concentration or use
a constant salinity. In the present case we will use a constant salinity of 0.1 (in terms of Molality;
i.e. mol NaCl/Kg H2O).

8. Go back to CMG GEM EOS Model form and navigate to the Aqueous Phase
Models/Data section. Enter the following parameters and press OK to close the window:

9. Click OK to close the form. Save the file as WINPROP_CASE_5.dat and Run it.

Page 42 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 10. Open the GEM dataset EXERCISE_3B_SOLUBILITY.dat in text editor and save it as
EXERCISE_5_MINERALIZATION.dat.

11. Open this model in Builder 2020.10, select the option ‘Import Winprop-generated Model’
and load the file WINPROP_CASE_5.gem to import the newly generated PVT with
geochemical reactions defined. Save the model and close it.

12. Open the model in cEdit and delete the HENRY-CORR-C1 keyword, because C1 should
not be modeled as soluble in water.

13. Add the following keywords at the end of the Model Section:
*OGW_FLASH *NO_H2OVAP

*DERIVATIVEMETHOD *NUMERALL
*CO2-AQU-FACT **This is for the total accounting of the carbon.
0. 0. 0. 0. 1. 1. 0.
*CO2-MNR-FACT
0. 1. 0.

Manual reference for the above keywords:

*CO2-AQU-FACT: This keyword is followed by nc_aqu values where nc_aqu is the
number of aqueous components. These numbers represent the number of molecules of
CO2 in each of the aqueous components. For example, the factor corresponding to
HCO3 is 1.
*CO2-MNR-FACT: This keyword is followed by nc_mnr values where nc_mnr is the
number of minerals. These numbers represent the number of molecules of CO2 in each of
the minerals components. For example, the factor corresponding to Calcite (CaCO 3) is 1
whereas the number corresponding to Dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2]is 2.
14. The Initialization Section needs to be added for initial composition of aqueous and
mineral components. Add the following initial compositions at the end of the INITIAL
section (represented by the GASZONE NOOIL keyword):
*MOLALITY-AQUEOUS-PRIMARY
** 'H+' 'Ca++' 'Al+++' 'SiO2(aq)'
1.000000E-07 9.118492E-05 2.317806E-11 2.345433E-08

*VOLUMEFRACTION-MINERAL
**'Anorthit' 'Calcite' 'Kaolinit'
0.0088 0.0088 0.0176

Below is an explanation of keywords used in mineralization. Further explanation can be

found in the GEM Manual:

Page 43 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 KEYWORD FUNCTIONALITY

Mineral dissolution/precipitation rate are set to zero if the

*YAQU-RATE- CUTOFF mole fraction of the gaseous component in the aqueous
phase is less than this specified limit.

Method for calculating the derivatives of the chemical

equilibrium equation. It must be followed by *NUMERICAL
*DER-CHEM-EQUIL
or *ANALYTICAL for numerical or analytical derivatives
respectively.

Method for calculating the derivatives of the mineral

dissolution or precipitation rates. It must be followed by
*DER-REACT-RATE
*NUMERICAL or *ANALYTICAL for numerical or analytical
derivatives respectively.

Specify computation of phase resistance factor caused

*RFCALC by change in fluid porosity due to solid deposition and/or
mineral precipitation or dissolution.

Activity model for the aqueous phase. It must be followed

*ACTIVITY-MODEL
by either *IDEAL, *DEBYE-HUCKEL or B-DOT.

This keyword is used to specify the model for the aqueous

*AQUEOUS-DENSITY phase density. It must be followed by either *LINEAR or
*ROWE-CHOU.

Calculation of salinity (in molality). It must be followed by

*SALINITY-CALC
*ON or *OFF.

Viscosity model for the aqueous phase. It must be followed

*AQUEOUS-VISCOSITY
by *KESTIN for the Kestin et al. correlation.

This keyword specifies that the aquifer is completely filled

with water. It must be followed by *ON or *OFF. If this
*AQFILL
keyword is not used or *OFF is entered, a small trace of a
hydrocarbon phase is always present in the aquifer.

Number of chemical equilibrium reactions in the aqueous

*N-CHEM-EQUIL
phase.

Number of rate-dependent dissolution and precipitation

*N-RATE-REACT
reactions

The log(Keq) is calculated with a fourth order polynomial in

*LOG-CHEM-EQUIL-COEFS T, i.e. log(Keq) = a0 + a1T + a2T2 + a3T3 + a4T4. It must be
followed by 5 values.

Page 44 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 Â0, initial reactive surface area in m2 / m3 of bulk volume of
*REACTIVE- SURFACE-AREA
rock.

*LOG-TST-RATE- CONSTANT log k0 [mol/(m2 s)], standard TST rate constant.

*REF-TEMP-RATE-CONST t* (°C) , reference temperature for rate constant.

*OGW_FLASH These keywords are used to model H2O vaporization.

*DIFFC-AQU Coefficients that specify molecular diffusion rates.

15. In the Input/Output section, print out mineral and aqueous phase related outputs for
visualization in Results (non-mineral related outputs will already be present) by adding the
following keywords:
*OUTSRF *GRID *MOLALITY 'CO2' *MOLALITY 'H+' *MOLALITY 'Ca++'
*MOLALITY 'SiO2(aq)' *MOLALITY 'Al+++' *MOLALITY 'OH-'
*MOLALITY 'CO3--' *MOLALITY 'HCO3-' *MINERAL 'Calcite'
*MINERAL 'Kaolini*' *MINERAL 'Anorthi*'

16. Save the file EXERCISE_5_MINERALIZATION.dat and Run in GEM.

Results Interpretation

Analyze the mineral changes with the field by plotting the "Mineral Moles Changes" for ‘Anorthite’,
‘Calcite’ and ‘Kaolinite’. You can plot these curves under the date type "Sector" as shown below:

Page 45 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

This shows that ‘Anorthite’ is getting dissolved whereas ‘Kaolinite’ is getting precipitated
throughout the simulation. ‘Calcite’ initially gets dissolved and later gets precipitated.

Also, plot the amount of CO2 in gaseous and aqueous phase.

Page 46 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

This shows that although initial CO2 injection is in gaseous phase, with time, CO2 starts dissolving
in water and then undergoes mineralization reactions in aqeous phase. As a result of this, the
amount of CO2 in gaseous phase keeps decreasing with time and the amount of CO2 in aqueous
phase keeps increasing.
The amount of CO2 trapped in each phase can be seen from the CO2 Storage Summary printed
in the EXERCISE_5A_MINERALIZATION.out file.

Page 47 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Exercise 6- Water Vaporization
The purpose of this exercise is to build the previous exercises with the addition of water
vaporization. It is known that at high injection pressures of gas water around the wellbore can
vaporize from liquid into a gaseous phase. This exercise explains how to add vaporization of
water to the previously defined Mineralization model (Exercise 5B).
Adding Vaporization using WinProp
1. In order to enable vaporization water needs to be added as a component so flash
calculations will be done for it.
2. Open WINPROP_CASE_5.dat in WinProp and change the title to:
EXERCISE_6: CO2 2D BASE CASE + SOLUBILITY + MINERALIZATION + H2OVAP
3. Open the Component definition form, highlight the CH4 row, and add H2O from the
library components list. Click Apply Change.
4. Open the CMG GEM EOS model form and check the option to Include H2O in GEM
component list.

5. Also enter a mole fraction of zero for H2O for the Aqueous Phase Threshold Value, then
Click OK.

6. Save the file as WINPROP_CASE_6.dat and Run it.

7. The result file WINPROP_CASE_6.gem will have water written as an additional
component. Due to all of the additional properties associated with it, the entire fluid model
(prior to reactions) will need to be replaced in the GEM dataset.

Page 48 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 8. Open the dataset EXERCISE_5_MINERALIZATION.dat in Builder, navigate to the
MODEL section, select the option ‘Import Winprop-generated Model’ and load the file
WINPROP_CASE_5.gem to import the newly generated PVT with geochemical reactions
defined. Save the model as EXERCISE_6_H2O_VAPORIZATION and close it.
9. Delete the keywords associated with Li-Nghiem’s method (HENRYC, REFPH, and
VINFINITY). Also make sure to delete the HENRY-CORR-C1 keyword because C1
should not be modeled as soluble in water. Solubility of CO2 needs to be modeled
because the OGW flash needs solubility definitions to be active.
10. Apart from the data obtained from WinProp, the following parameters need to be added
in the middle of the MODEL section just below the keyword ACTIVITY-MODEL B-DOT:
OGW_FLASH *ON
METHOD-OGW 2
SATWCUTOFF 0.07
SWR-H2OVAP 0.1
PSAT -1
DIFFC-AQU 2.0E-05 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
DERIVATIVE_METHOD NUMERALL
Delete keyword OGW_FLASH NO_H2OVAP
11. Make sure that the ZGAS definition in the INITIAL section includes the "H2O" component:
ZGAS 0.001 0.999 0.0
12. The INCOMP for the injection stream (the components being injected) also needs to be
verified to include the "H2O" component as well:
INCOMP SOLVENT 1. 0. 0.
13. Add the outputs Y ‘H2O’ and W ‘H2O’ to the OUTSRF GRID output.
14. Save the dataset and Run it in GEM.

Results Interpretation

Open the results of EXERCISE_6_H2O_VAPORIZATION.sr3 in Results and observe how the

Gas Mole Fraction (H2O) now changes with time. A comparison to any previous dataset, such
as Exercise 5, will reveal that vaporization was not taking place then.

Page 49 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Exercise 7- 3D GHG Model with RESCUE Import (OPTIONAL)
The purpose of this exercise is to incorporate the mechanisms introduced in the previous
exercises in a 3D model. This model is to be built starting with the import of a RESCUE Geologic
Model. This exercise is optional.

Building of Reservoir Model

The reservoir model will be built by importing an existing grid and grid properties through RESCUE
import.
RESCUE Model Import
1. Open Builder and create a new dataset with the following options:

Page 50 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 2. On the Menu bar go to File → Import from another file → Rescue Model.
3. Browse to 3DRescue.bin. This should be located in the folder REQUIRED DATA →
Rescue Model for Exercise 7. Press OK to the messages which appear.
4. The Import Properties Window will appear. In this window, properties in the RESCUE
file need to be mapped to properties in the GEM model. Match the following properties
together.
Do this by clicking on the RESCUE Property on the left and finding the associated GEM
property on the right then clicking Add to Selected List. Click OK when done:

The reservoir model should now be imported with the associated properties.
5. Save the dataset as EXERCISE_7_3D_MODEL.dat.
Defining Reservoir Properties
6. In the I/O Control Section open the Titles and Case ID window and input the title
EXERCISE_7: 3D GHG MODEL FROM RESCUE IMP.
7. Open the Specify Properties window and set Permeability J and Permeability K to
Equal I for the Whole Grid.

Page 51 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 8. Open the Rock Compressibility window and input a Rock Compressibility (CPOR) of
5.8e-07 1/kPa and a Reference Pressure (PRPOR) of 11800 kPa.
9. The Fluid Model for this dataset is the same as that used in Exercise 5 (with
Mineralization). This will be added in a later step in a text editor.
10. The Rock-Fluid and Initial Conditions sections will also be copied from Exercise 5 and
as such can be skipped for now as well.
11. Under the Wells & Recurrent section open the Dates window and Add a range of dates
as shown below and set a STOP on the last date:

12. Add a CO2 Injector well in the center of the Reservoir with the constraints as shown below.
Change the injected fluid to ‘SOLVENT’ and the injected mole fraction of CO2 to 1.

Page 52 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 13. Add the following constraints in the Constraints tab for this well:

The rate constraint is coded with pink colour to denote that the injected fluid definition is missing.
Click OK.
14. Open the Well Events window and SHUTIN the well after 25 years of injection in the
Options tab for the well and click OK:

Page 53 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 15. Perforate the well by going to the Well Completion Data (PERF) dialog and then to the
Perforations tab. Create perforations in the approximate center of the model by adding a
row and typing in 19 25 8:13:

16. Save the file and Exit Builder. Open the file in a Text Editor.

Page 54 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 17. Open EXERCISE_5_MINERALIZATION.dat in Text Editor. Copy the entire I/O Section
(from the keyword INUNIT to INVENTORY-CO2) from this file to Exercise 7.
Also copy the entire fluid model section (starting with the keyword MODEL), the rock-
fluid section (starting with the keyword ROCKFLUID), the initial conditions section,
and the numerical settings section (starting with the keyword NUMERICAL) from
Exercise 5 to Exercise 7. Change the DTMAX parameter to 365 days.
18. In the INITIAL section change the DWGC to 800m.
19. In the wells and recurrent section (defined by the keyword RUN) change the injector
fluid composition (INCOMP) to:
INCOMP SOLVENT 1.0 0.0 ** This assumes CO2 is the first component
20. Save the Exercise 7 file and Run it in GEM.

Results Interpretation

Open the results of the file EXERCISE_7_3D_MODEL.sr3 in Results and observe the mineral
precipitation and dissolution that occurs over the run.

Page 55 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

By plotting amounts of CO2 in various forms (CO2 inventories), you can see that most of the CO2
is present either in the form of aqeous ions or dissolved in water. CO 2 in the form of precipitated
mineral is the next on the list and you can see that it takes a very long time for the mineralization
reactions to happen and for CO2 to be trapped that way. By the end of the simulation, the amount
of CO2 in minerals is steadily increasing.

Page 56 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

A look at mineral mole changes will show that the reactions for Calcite and Kaolinite are favoring
precipitation of the minerals, whereas Anorthite is mostly getting dissolved:

Exercise 8- 3D GHG Model with Geomechanics

The purpose of this exercise is to incorporate Geomechanics into the previous exercise’s 3D
model. With two-way coupled geomechanics, we will estimate the overall porosity and
permeability changes in the model – because of all the processes – geochemical and
geomechanical and we will calculate subsidence value at surface level. To that effect, we will add
extra grid blocks (geogrid) to the model to represent the overburden formation.

Page 57 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

Adding Geomechanics
1. Open the file EXERCISE_7_3D_MODEL.dat in Builder.

2. Open the Geomechanics section by clicking on the button.Click on Calculation

Options …
3. Change of Finite Element Method Dimension to 3D and the value NITERGEO to 500.

4. Click OK on window and on all the messages that pop-up.

5. Double-click on Geomechanical Rock Types to enter properties for one geomechanics
rock type for the entire reservoir. Set up the rock with the following properties:

6. Define the initial stress distribution in the model by selecting ‘Initial Stress Distribution’ as
shown below.

Page 58 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 7. Next, in the Reservoir section, double click to open the Compaction/Dilation Regions
dialogue. This is needed in GEM while using geomechanics.
8. Add a region as shown below and click OK:

9. Make sure DEPLETION option is OFF:

Page 59 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 10. In the I/O Control section, set up extra output to visualize geomechanical properties.
Open the Simulation Results Output Window.

11. Click on the Select button for the Grid Output Selection. In the window which appears
enable outputs for the following list:
BIOT Biot’s constant
BULKVOL Bulk Volume
GCOHESION Cohesion Value
GEORTYPE Rock type number for geomechanical material
PERM Permeability in each direction
POISSON Poisson’s ratio
PORDIFF Difference in geomechanics porosity and reservoir porosity
POROS Current porosity
PRES Pressure
SAFACTOR Safety Factor
SG Gas Saturation
STRAINVOL Volumetric Strain
STRESEFF Mean Effective Stress
STRESMNP Mean Principle Stress

Page 60 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 STRESSM Mean Total Stress
STRNEPL Effective Plastic Strain
SUBSIDGEO Vertical Displacement based on geomechanics
SW Water Saturation
TSAFACTOR Tensile safety factor
TSUBSIDGEO Vertical Displacement Down based on geomechanics, at cell top
TVERDPLGEO Vertical Displacement Up based on geomechanics, at top of cell
VDISPL Displacement vector on each grid block
VERDSPLGEO Vertical Displacement Up based on geomechanics, block center
VPOROSGEO Porosity calculated form geomechanics module
VPOROSTGEO True porosity calculated from geomechanics module
YLDSTATE Yield State
YOUNG Young’s Elastic Modulus

12. Press OK to all open windows.

13. Click OK and Save the Dataset as: EXERCISE_8_3D_MODEL.dat.
Defining an Extended Geogrid

14. Navigate to the Geomechanics section. Double click on ‘Extend Grid’:

15. We want to add 10 layers above and below the reservoir grid. We want the overburden
to extend to zero surface depth. We can also make the extended grid follow the varying
depth of the top and bottom of the reservoir grid. Fill in data as follows, click OK, and
save the model.

Page 61 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 16. Close Builder and open the model in cEDIT or another text editor. Navigate to the
geomechanics section, starting with header keyword GEOMECH. Due to a known issue
with Builder 2020.20, you may need to delete the following 3 keywords, which are not
necessary for the extended geogrid: GTRANSLI, GTRANSLJ, GTRANSLK.

17. Type the following keyword and value at the bottom of the geomechanic rock type (just
under COHESION keyword), to model geomechanical impact on reservoir permeability:
GPERMLC 5

18. Type the following keyword and values at the bottom of the Geomechanics Section. This
is to magnify the displacements (for visualization only):
MAGNIFYDI 1e4
MAGNIFYDJ 1e4
MAGNIFYDK 1e4
19. Add the following keyword to the geomechanics section. This keyword improves the
accuracy of the porosity computed by the default coupling method (GCOUPLING 2)
between the fluid flow and deformation calculations.

CALIB_POR
20. The Geomechanics section should look as follows:

Page 62 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 21. In the INITIAL conditions section, add keyword:
SWOC
0.9999

Also add:
EQUIL-REACT-RATE ON
CHEM-EQUIL-SET ON
in the geochemistry section, before ROCKFLUID.

22. Use the following numerical settings in the numerical section

NUMERICAL
*DTMAX 365.
*DTMIN 1e-9
*NORM *SATUR 0.2
*NORM *GMOLAR 0.005
*NORM *AQUEOUS 0.65
*MAXCHANGE SATUR 1
*MAXCHANGE GMOLAR 1
*MAXCHANGE PRESS 100000
*MAXCHANGE MINERAL-VFR 0.5
*CONVERGE *PRESS 1.E-05
*CONVERGE *WATER 1.E-04
*CONVERGE *HC 1.E-04
*CONVERGE *MAXRES 1.E-04
*NORTH 180
*ITERMAX 200
*PRECC 1e-08
*ITERCER 5

Page 63 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial

 *AIM THRESH 0.00001

23. Save the dataset and run it with GEM.

Results Interpretation
Given that we added a geogrid, the output consists of two SR3 files:

EXERCISE_8_3D_MODEL.sr3 : for the reservoir grid (flow properties)

EXERCISE_8_3D_MODEL.gmch.sr3 : for the geogrid (geomech properties)

Open the second file in Results and observe the changes in geomechanical properties like
stresses and strain. Also notice the deformation in the actual grid. Plot the property Vertical
Displacement from Geomechanics. Also notice that the grid deformation is presented on a
magnified scale to improve resolution for interpreting results.

The property variation in a specific block (for example the block lying above the well at surface
level) can be checked by using the Quick Plot Block Property tool in Results. Position the mouse
on the block of interest, right click and click on Quick Plot Block Property:

Page 64 CO2 Sequestration Using GEM - Tutorial