Unveiling Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Prospects: A Basin-Scale Assessment of the Basin a, Central Thailand

This project focused on the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) potential of the aquifer formations in Basin A, Central Thailand, through a comprehensive basin-level assessment. The systematic evaluation process comprised four key steps: area screening, target identification, storage estimation, and suitability assessment. Initially, a thorough review of the geological characteristics. This step identified candidate formations for detailed analysis in later stages. Next, the geological province was divided into three geological provinces based on the similarity of structural trend and depositional environment, namely, the Northern area with a focus on F2 formation, the Western area for F3 formation storage, and the Eastern area targeting F2 formation. After that, the project calculated the Storage Resources for specific areas, providing valuable insights into their potential storage capacity. A systematic parameter derivation method was employed during this stage to arrive at the Storage Resources. Finally, the assessment results were used to gauge the overall suitability of Basin A for CCS purposes, considering three key criteria: reservoir efficacy, reservoir properties, and caprock efficacy. Unfortunately, the suitability assessment uncovered two significant obstacles hindering the aquifers in Basin A from being viable CO2 storage sites. Firstly, concerns were raised about their low salinity and potential conflicts with potable water usage. Secondly, the absence of a regional seal indicated that the CO2 plume might escape, rendering them less suitable for long-term storage.