Subsurface Heterogeneity Critical to CCUS and CO₂-EOR Accuracy

⚡ AI Executive Summary

The Global CCS Institute hosted a technical webinar examining how geological variability in subsurface formations affects the reliability of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO₂-EOR) reservoir models. Researchers from Stratum Reservoir presented evidence that conventional assumptions borrowed from oil and gas practice may substantially underestimate uncertainty in site characterization. The findings carry important implications for CCUS project development and risk management. Accurate characterization of subsurface heterogeneity is essential for predicting CO₂ behavior in storage formations and optimizing injection strategies. As the energy industry scales CCUS deployment, improving site assessment methodologies reduces the risk of model failures and operational surprises, directly affecting project economics and regulatory confidence in long-term storage integrity.