Optimized CO2 Modeling in Saline Aquifers: Evaluating Fluid Models and Grid Resolution for Enhanced CCS Performance

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a critical strategy for reducing CO2 emissions from hard-to-abate sectors. Reliable and efficient reservoir simulation tools are essential for supporting the safe and effective deployment of CCS projects. This study presents a twofold contribution to CCS modeling in saline aquifers: (1) the validation of the Black Oil Model (BoM) as a computationally efficient alternative to compositional simulators, and (2) a systematic assessment of the impact of grid resolution on plume prediction accuracy. The BoM was benchmarked against three commercial compositional simulators—Eclipse E300, CMG-GEM, and TNavigator. The comparison focused on key aspects of CO2 storage operations, including plume evolution to assess containment and storage security, as well as injection safety and efficiency through pressure and saturation profile analysis, evaluated across both the injection and the post-closure monitoring phases. The BoM successfully reproduced plume extent and CO2 saturation distributions, with mean deviations of 3% during injection, 5% during post-closure, and an overall average of 4% across the entire project duration. Additionally, simulation times were reduced by a factor of four compared to compositional models. These results confirm the BoM’s practical utility as a robust and efficient tool for CO2 storage simulation. In parallel, the study investigated the influence of vertical and lateral grid resolutions/coarsening on the accuracy of CO2 modeling. Seven models were developed and evaluated using a hybrid qualitative–quantitative framework, consistent with the BoM validation methodology. Vertical resolution was found to be particularly critical during the monitoring phase. While a 5 m resolution proved adequate during injection, deviations in plume shape and magnitude during post-injection increased to an average of 15% compared to a fine 2 m vertical resolution model, highlighting the necessity of fine vertical discretization (≤2 m) to capture gravity-driven plume dynamics during the monitoring phase. Conversely, lateral grid resolution had a stronger effect during the injection phase. A lateral cell size of 150 m was required for accurate plume prediction, with 200 m remaining moderately acceptable for early-phase assessment and prospect ranking, whereas coarser lateral grids led to significant underestimation of plume spread and dissolution extent. These findings demonstrate that the BoM, when combined with informed grid resolution strategies, enables accurate and computationally efficient simulation of CO2 storage in saline aquifers. The study provides practical guidelines for fluid model selection and spatial discretization, offering critical input to subsurface experts involved in CCS project development, monitoring design, and regulatory compliance.