HPC-simulation software for the gigatonne-storage challenge, phase 2

The project will accelerate the development of HPC (high performance computing) technology for CO₂ storage simulations. In phase 1 of the project (620073), a crucial milestone was achieved with the release and demonstration of the CO₂STORE module in the OPM Flow simulator (www.opm-project.org). This is a dedicated CO₂ storage option that is easy to use, accurate and efficient. The CO₂STORE module was successfully applied to a regional multi-million cell model of Smeaheia. Further development is needed to (a) further improve computational speed and stability to allow efficient inclusion of dissolution processes and thermal effects in realistic field-scale simulations (b) extend the use cases to new topics, e.g., storage in depleted hydrocarbon fields (c) collaborate with other storage simulation groups to develop an international benchmark for field-scale simulation of CO₂ storage. In phase 1, the project demonstrated successful engagement with various stakeholders and received input that strengthened the industry relevance of project. In phase 2, we aim to expand the reference group from the Netherlands, the USA and Norway to include CO₂ storage developers in Denmark and the UK. Our goal is to deliver a dedicated CO₂ storage simulator that will be the preferred option for the CCS community.

Gigatonne CO₂ storage is still an unproven concept. A regional perspective on Gigatonne CO₂ storage is a key to ensuring good utilization of infrastructure and available storage resources. A particular challenge for many of the potential regions is to model the interaction with ongoing petroleum activities, for example the Troll field west of Smeaheia. A fast and reliable simulator, which is the goal of this project, can provide the large-scale computational capacity needed for Gigatonne CO₂ storage. The Gigatonne challenge places a special set of requirements on simulators – robust, sufficiently resolved, and efficient over large spatial domains and long time-scales – that are beyond the reach of existing tools. A reliable gigatonne simulation tool has significant potential as a game changer for the industry. The project will enable operators to assess Gigatonne CO₂ storage and plan more effectively for large-scale field developments. HPC simulations will support techno-economic analyzes and provide better CAPEX/OPEX estimates.

The overall goal of HPC Gt is to deliver an HPC-compatible CO₂ storage simulator with advanced functionality to meet the challenge of Gigatonne storage. Part of this goal was achieved in phase 1 of the project. An important milestone was the launch of the CO₂STORE module and the successful demonstration of HPC performance on the regional Smeaheia model. Stakeholder feedback at the end of Phase 1 and further testing revealed additional needs both in terms of performance and functionality that are not currently widely supported by other commercial simulators. To meet the overall goal, Phase 2 of this project aims to: (1) Improve HPC performance by at least 20% on complex multi-million cell models provided by industry. (2) Provide functionality necessary to simulate CO₂ injection in depleted hydrocarbon fields. (3) Simulate complex multi-million cell model with dissolution and thermal effects sufficiently accurate, with simulation times no more than five times higher than corresponding models without dissolution and thermal effects. (4) Educate and attract 10 new users of the CO₂ functionality in OPM Flow within the project period.

The project will deliver an open-source simulator capable of simulating complex models with the necessary physics and resolution. The project is planned with 4 work packages (WP):

1. Improve HPC performance of the OPM Flow simulator with a goal of delivering a more scalable, robust, and efficient simulator.
2. Extend modelling capabilities in the simulator to efficiently simulate CO₂ injection in depleted hydrocarbon fields.
3. Verify and demonstrate CO₂ simulations that include dissolution processes and thermal effects in realistic field-scale settings.
4. Dissemination and preparation of an international CO₂ storage benchmark for realistic simulations at field scale.