Role of structural trapping in preventing CO2 leakage through faulted caprock in Illinois Basin

N. Bondarenko, H. Kim, R. Makhnenko, Y. Podladchikov

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Preliminary analysis of the risks associated with on-going geologic carbon storage projects has to be conducted in conditions of limited knowledge about the participating rock formations to assess the feasibility of the potential injection site. Different sources of geomechanical data (e.g., geophysical well logging and laboratory testing) are utilized to initialize numerical models for the preliminary assessment. Both data sources are associated with intrinsic limitations, increasing the uncertainty in the model prediction. In this work, one of the potential CO2 injection sites in the Illinois Basin is considered for the potential leakage through the local fault system in the vicinity of the injection well, with a special attention given to the comparison of the well-log and laboratory geomechanical data. The conducted analysis shows that while the use of geophysical well log is beneficial to make a preliminary assessment, it cannot capture complex sensitivity of material properties to state of stress, temperature, and pore fluid composition. An additional challenge during the preliminary assessment is the presence of formations which properties are unknown or highly uncertain (e.g., properties of the damage zone surrounding the small-scale fault system). It is demonstrated that the numerical model could be significantly simplified for the initial assessment, and consideration of the worst-case scenario can help to overcome the uncertainties in material properties. Preliminary risk assessment suggests that the risk of leakage through the adjacent fault system in the considered case is moderate due to the structural trapping of the injected CO2.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication57th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium
PublisherAmerican Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA)
ISBN (Electronic)9780979497582
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Event57th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium - Atlanta, United States
Duration: Jun 25 2023Jun 28 2023

Publication series

Name57th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium

Conference

Conference57th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAtlanta
Period6/25/236/28/23

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Geophysics

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