Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
Department
Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Committee Chair
Ebrahim Fathi
Committee Co-Chair
Samuel Ameri
Committee Member
Kashy Aminian
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The Clinton Sandstone of the Appalachian Basin represents a mature hydrocarbon-producing formation with potential for carbon dioxide (CO₂) enhanced oil recovery (EOR). This study develops a compositional reservoir simulation model using the CMG software suite (WinProp, Builder, and GEM) to evaluate the performance of CO₂ injection in improving oil recovery within the Clinton formation.
A three-dimensional reservoir model was constructed using representative geological and petrophysical properties consistent with those of the Clinton Sandstone. Fluid behavior was modeled using a compositional equation-of-state (EOS) approach to accurately capture phase behavior, miscibility development, and CO₂–oil interactions under reservoir conditions. Injection scenarios were designed to analyze recovery performance, pressure evolution, CO₂ plume migration, and gas breakthrough behavior.
In addition to oil recovery performance, the study evaluates CO₂ retention mechanisms occurring during and after injection, including structural trapping, residual trapping, and solubility trapping. The temporal evolution of these mechanisms is analyzed to assess the extent of incidental CO₂ storage associated with EOR operations.
Sensitivity analyses were conducted to systematically investigate the impact of key reservoir and operational parameters, including porosity, permeability, injection pressure, and miscibility conditions, on both oil recovery and CO₂ distribution within the reservoir.
The results provide insight into the technical feasibility of CO₂-EOR in the Clinton Sandstone while quantifying the associated CO₂ retention behavior under compositional simulation conditions. This work contributes to understanding how mature Appalachian Basin reservoirs in the Clinton formation may support enhanced hydrocarbon recovery while enabling partial carbon management benefits.
Recommended Citation
AlQattan, Bushra Aref, "Comprehensive Evaluation of CO₂ EOR Numerical Modeling in the Clinton Sandstone of the Appalachian Tri-State Region Using Compositional Reservoir Simulation (CMG GEM)" (2026). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 13327.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/13327