3D implicit modeling applied to the evaluation of CO2 geological storage in the shales of the Irati Formation, Paraná Basin, Southeastern Brazil

The Paris Agreement established global ambitious targets for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, requiring the rapid and extensive development of low carbon technologies, and one of the most efficient is CO2 geological storage. Among the deep geological formations used for CO2 storage, the shale layers have been a new emerging field with higher efficiency because they are abundant and have a high content of organic matter that is favorable for CO2 retention. However, one of the challenges in evaluating a location for potentials reservoirs is the adequate geological characterization and storage volume estimation. The study evaluates the Irati Formation of the Paraná Basin based on wireline logs information within Southeastern Brazil, where most stationary sources of carbon emissions are located. Three‐dimensional (3D) implicit modeling techniques were applied not only for volume calculation purpose, but also in the site selection stage, generating thematic 3D models indicating thickness, depth, structures, and distance to aquifer systems. The limestones, shales, and black shales of the Irati Formation were locally grouped into six units considering the geological composition and spatial continuity. Based on the 3D model and reservoir parameters, the organic‐rich shale Unit E with a theoretical capacity of 1.85 Gt is considerable for CO2 storage. The estimated CO2 storage capacity is promising because it is higher than the total CO2 locally produced, and it could support the implantation of new projects in this region. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.