Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Research Centre: A summary of 5 years progress in targeted CCS research

Abstract

The Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Research Centre (QCCSRC) is a 10 year, $70M research partnership between Qatar Petroleum, Shell, Qatar Science and Technology Park and Imperial College London. There are currently over 60 academic staff, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students (4 Qataris with another graduated) engaged in the QCCSRC with over 100 papers in print or review and 13 PhD thesis completed to date.
The main objectives of QCCSRC are:
• conducting novel geosciences research to understand the carbonate reservoirs in Qatar and enhance oil and gas production
• supporting the deployment of carbon storage by improving the underlying science and engineering
• developing local talent in Qatar through higher education, research training and capacity building in fields of geosciences and engineering
QCCSRC is organised and delivered through various specific research projects. The research is focusing on the fundamental understanding of carbonate reservoir and seal rocks (through outcrop studies), the physical and chemical rock-fluid interactions at the pore and fracture scale, and the methods to enhance simulation and modelling for multi-phase fluid dynamics in depleted reservoirs and/or deep saline aquifers. The science will be applied through the development of useful tools and predictive models for geo-scientist, petroleum/chemical engineers to facilitate our understanding of CO2 movements subsurface thereby reducing the uncertainty in reservoir modelling.
The novel research conducted within QCCSRC will play an essential role in the future of the oil and gas industry, strengthening engineering talent and expertise in this field globally and within Qatar and the Middle East, where the majority of the world’s carbonate reservoirs are located.