Iwanohara Demonstration Test Site

Purpose
Injecting CO2 into an actual aquifer in Japan, data on the CO2 behavior during and after injection was obtained and was used for geotechnical analysis and evaluation. Through this process, understanding was gained on the CO2 storage mechanism. It was also verified that CO2 could be stored securely by using a newly developed long-term behavior prediction simulator.

Injection began on July 7, 2003. The injection rate was 20 t/day during FY2003 and 40 t/day during FY 2004.

The injection work was completed in January 2005 with the final cumulative injection amount totaling 10,405 tons, without experiencing any serious problems, excluding periodical inspection/repair of the CO2 supply plant (Mar-Apr, 2004), suspension of injection due to CO2 supply shortage (Jul-Aug, 2004), and halt of injection due to the Mid-Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake (Oct. 23-Dec. 6, 2004).

Achievements

The feasibility of CO2 geological storage was demonstrated via the successful injection of CO2 into the aquifer located in Japan which has a relatively low permeability.

An understanding of CO2 geological storage was significantly advanced by the surveys and tests for ascertaining reservoir behavior as well as by the monitoring and simulation study during and after CO2 injection.

Applicability of existing technologies in fields such as natural resources engineering was demonstrated through a range of processes including excavation of wells, design and construction of an injection facility, injection, monitoring, and simulation studies.

Progress

FY 2000
Selection of the test site, layout of an injection well & observation wells, excavation of Injection Well CO2-1

FY2001
Excavation of Observation Wells CO2-2 and CO2-3, deliberation of a monitoring plan

FY2002
Injection well test (ascertaining permeability), simulation study (reviewing the injection rate, etc.), design and construction of an injection facility, excavation of Observation Well CO2-4, preparation of an injection operation plan (review of injection rate, injection layer), update of the monitoring plan, initial monitoring of seismic tomography

FY2003
Completion of the excavated injection well (acidic treatment of Injection Well CO2-1), installation of an injection facility, injection operation (injection of 3,977t), monitoring, and simulation study

FY2004
Injection operation (completion of 10,405t of injection), monitoring, site restoration work (removal of injection facility), and simulation study

FY2005
Monitoring, sampling, and simulation study

FY2006
Monitoring and simulation study