Basin modeling clean energy applications

Petromod for CCS applications

• Component injection table.
• Year time step resolution.
• Interfacial tension (IFT) table for CO₂.
• Improvement of Invasion Percolation (IP).

Key Applications:

Subsurface characterization:
Petromod helps model the temperature, pressure, and fluid flow history of sedimentary basins, which is crucial for identifying suitable CO₂ storage sites such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or deep saline aquifers.

Seal and trap integrity analysis:
The software can simulate caprock integrity and trap mechanisms, ensuring that injected CO₂ remains securely stored over geological timescales.

Reservoir simulation and capacity estimation:
By modeling porosity, permeability, and fluid saturation, Petromod aids in estimating the storage capacity and injectivity of potential CO₂ reservoirs.

Risk assessment and scenario testing:
Petromod allows users to run multiple geological scenarios to assess risks such as leakage pathways, fault reactivation, or pressure buildup.

Integration with other data:
It integrates seismic, well, and geological data to create 2D and 3D models, which are essential for accurate CCS planning and monitoring.

Illustrative cases and references

Carbon storage site selection in aquifers: scalable dynamic and static methods at basin to local scale

3D visualization of the CO2 saturation in the Cobia Subgroup unit of the Latrobe Group formation in the Gippsland basin, Australia

Paper to introduce two scalable methods for assessing carbon storage at basin scale: a dynamic approach using adapted basin and petroleum systems modeling to simulate CO₂ trapping over time, and a static approach leveraging seismic data for direct storage modeling.

Torres, C. S., Hidalgo, J. C., & Kauerauf, A. (2023, June). Carbon storage site selection in aquifers: Scalable dynamic and static methods at basin to local scale. In 84th EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition (Vol. 2023, No. 1, pp. 1-5). European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers.

The advanced basin modeling functions in Petromod software support geothermal exploration by predicting where geothermal resources might be found. These capabilities help lower exploration risks and provide more accurate resource evaluations in several ways

Key applications

Integration of geological data
Combining seismic, well, and geological data to create comprehensive models of sedimentary basins.

Multi-dimensional modeling
Supporting 1D, 2D, and 3D simulations to understand heat flow and fluid dynamics.

Simulation of geological processes
Modeling temperature, pressure, and structural changes to predict geothermal potential.

Risk assessment
Evaluating geological risks—including trap, reservoir, and seal—which are essential for assessing geothermal viability.

Dynamic modeling
Tracking structural evolution, temperature, and pressure history to understand geothermal resource generation and accumulation over time.

These features help predict geothermal resource locations, reducing exploration risks and improving resource assessments.

Resistivity model based on points with resistivity attribute which derived from magneto telluric data in Sorik Marapi field (Licup, A.C., et al., 2017)

Illustrative cases and references

Updated lithological and temperature model in Sorik Marapi geothermal field, Indonesia
3D subsurface model with key focus in the temperature model, which is crucial for delineating high-potential resource zones and supporting accurate reservoir simulation for geothermal development.

SLB offers integrated technologies and expertise to support your project—from reservoir characterization and static/dynamic modeling for economic evaluation, to designing and optimizing field development plans for efficient lithium production.

Using Petromod software—which models geological processes and consolidates data—geoscientists can simulate the history of lithium deposit formation to accurately predict resource locations and quantities

Key applications

Providing a static model of the estimated lithium resources in place by constructing a 3D lithium brine resource model, in order to:

• Helping identify the sweet spots containing the highest lithium metric tons per acre.
• Enabling regional-level basin screening as a preliminary step toward detailed subsurface modeling.
• Delivering input for high-grading prospects through lithium sweet-spot mapping across the entire study region

Illustrative cases and references

Lithium brine resource modeling
Efficiently explore, evaluate, and develop lithium-rich brine resources using advanced SLB subsurface modeling technologies.
 
To meet the growing global demand for lithium—projected to reach nearly 4.0 metric megatons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by 2040, operators must identify new reserves and optimize production from existing sources.     Read more 

Porosity distribution map around basin containing lithium brines

Smackover Lithium Brine Basin Report

The 3D basin model report for the Smackover Play in Southwest Arkansas and Texas provides a static model of the estimated lithium resources in place to help identify the sweet spots containing the highest lithium metric tons per acre. This accelerates the exploration, extraction, and production of lithium.     See report

Depth interval map of the Smackover Play. Aspect ratio of 1:25 for highlighting surface topography

While Petromod is traditionally used for hydrocarbon exploration, its advanced modeling capabilities can be adapted for natural hydrogen exploration. The software can simulate the geological processes that lead to the generation, migration, and accumulation of natural hydrogen, similar to hydrocarbons.

Key applications

Identifying potential source rocks
Understanding the geological formations that could generate natural hydrogen.

Modeling migration pathways
Simulating how hydrogen migrates through the subsurface.

Assessing accumulation sites
Predicting where hydrogen might accumulate in economically viable quantities.

Illustrative cases and references

Application of basin modeling technologies in the exploration of natural hydrogen systems
Example of the application a conventional basin modelling simulator in the evaluation of the generation, migration, and accumulation of natural hydrogen in the subsurface.   Learn more

Present day H2 concentration in water. Solubility of H2 in water according to Z. Zhu et al. (2022)

Hidalgo, J. C., Kauerauf, A., van Wijngaarden, M. D. L., & Torres, C. S. (2024, June). Application of basin modeling technologies in the exploration of natural hydrogen systems. In 85th EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition (Vol. 2024, No. 1, pp. 1-5). European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers.