A study of injection-induced mechanical deformation at the In Salah CO2 storage project

Morris, Joseph P.; Ye, Hao; Foxall, W.; McNab, W. W.

doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2010.10.004

Cited by 117 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The bilobate pattern of uplift above well KB-502 is of particular interest. Numerical inversion of the observed uplift for geomechanical processes at depth have revealed that the bilobate pattern is best explained by the presence of a fault or fracture zone extending from the reservoir 100-200 m into the overburden (29,54). A similar, albeit smaller, feature was identified at well KB-501 as well.…”

Section: In Salahmentioning

confidence: 81%

Comparison of geomechanical deformation induced by megatonne-scale CO ₂ storage at Sleipner, Weyburn, and In Salah

Verdon

Kendall

Stork

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

191

101

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Geological storage of CO 2 that has been captured at large, point source emitters represents a key potential method for reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. However, this technology will only be viable if it can be guaranteed that injected CO 2 will remain trapped in the subsurface for thousands of years or more. A significant issue for storage security is the geomechanical response of the reservoir. Concerns have been raised that geomechanical deformation induced by CO 2 injection will create or reactivate fracture networks in the sealing caprocks, providing a pathway for CO 2 leakage. In this paper, we examine three large-scale sites where CO 2 is injected at rates of ∼1 megatonne/y or more: Sleipner, Weyburn, and In Salah. We compare and contrast the observed geomechanical behavior of each site, with particular focus on the risks to storage security posed by geomechanical deformation. At Sleipner, the large, high-permeability storage aquifer has experienced little pore pressure increase over 15 y of injection, implying little possibility of geomechanical deformation. At Weyburn, 45 y of oil production has depleted pore pressures before increases associated with CO 2 injection. The long history of the field has led to complicated, sometimes nonintuitive geomechanical deformation. At In Salah, injection into the water leg of a gas reservoir has increased pore pressures, leading to uplift and substantial microseismic activity. The differences in the geomechanical responses of these sites emphasize the need for systematic geomechanical appraisal before injection in any potential storage site.carbon sequestration | geomechanics | InSAR | microseismic monitoring C arbon capture and storage (CCS)-where CO 2 is captured at large point source emitters (such as coal-fired power stations) and stored in suitable geological repositories-has been touted as a technology with the potential to achieve dramatic reductions in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (1, 2). However, its success is dependent on the ability of reservoirs to retain CO 2 over long timescales (a minimum of several thousand years). If CCS is to make a significant impact on global emissions, more than 3.5 billion tons of CO 2 per year must be stored (3), which at reservoir conditions will have a volume of ∼30 billion barrels (4).Secure storage of such large volumes of CO 2 requires more than just the availability of the appropriate volumes of pore space. CO 2 is buoyant in comparison with the saline brines that fill the majority of putative storage sites. Therefore, injected CO 2 will rise through porous rocks and return to the surface, unless trapped by impermeable sealing layers (such as shales and evaporites). Preliminary estimates have tended to indicate that, from a volumetric perspective at least, sufficient storage capacity exists for many decades of CO 2 emissions in deep-lying saline aquifers that have suitable sealing capability (5).It is equally important that the integrity of the seal is not compromised by injection activitie...

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Section: In Salahmentioning

confidence: 81%

Comparison of geomechanical deformation induced by megatonne-scale CO ₂ storage at Sleipner, Weyburn, and In Salah

Verdon

Kendall

Stork

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

191

101

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“…Several hypotheses have been put forward by various groups to explain these observations. These include fault leakage, flow through preexisting fractures, or the possibility that injection pressures hydraulically fractured a portion of the lower seal (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). In this work, we evaluate these hypotheses in light of the available data.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Geomechanical behavior of the reservoir and caprock system at the In Salah CO ₂ storage project

White¹,

Chiaramonte²,

Ezzedine

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

145

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Almost 4 million metric tons of CO 2 were injected at the In Salah CO 2 storage site between 2004 and 2011. Storage integrity at the site is provided by a 950-m-thick caprock that sits above the injection interval. This caprock consists of a number of low-permeability units that work together to limit vertical fluid migration. These are grouped into main caprock units, providing the primary seal, and lower caprock units, providing an additional buffer and some secondary storage capacity. Monitoring observations at the site indirectly suggest that pressure, and probably CO 2 , have migrated upward into the lower portion of the caprock. Although there are no indications that the overall storage integrity has been compromised, these observations raise interesting questions about the geomechanical behavior of the system. Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain the measured pressure, seismic, and surface deformation behavior. These include fault leakage, flow through preexisting fractures, and the possibility that injection pressures induced hydraulic fractures. This work evaluates these hypotheses in light of the available data. We suggest that the simplest and most likely explanation for the observations is that a portion of the lower caprock was hydrofractured, although interaction with preexisting fractures may have played a significant role. There are no indications, however, that the overall storage complex has been compromised, and several independent data sets demonstrate that CO 2 is contained in the confinement zone.carbon sequestration | geomechanics

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“…These studies calculate the storage capacity as the maximum amount of CO 2 that can be injected before the increase in pressure causes fractures or activates faults. Fracturing and fault activation could induce seismicity, or could create 25 or enhance pathways by which CO 2 could leak from the target aquifer (IPCC, 2005;Cappa and Rutqvist, 2011b,a;Morris et al, 2011). We refer to storage capacities based on this type of constraint as pressure limited.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical analysis of how pressure buildup and CO2 migration can both constrain storage capacity in deep saline aquifers

Szulczewski

MacMinn

Juanes

2014

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

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A study of injection-induced mechanical deformation at the In Salah CO2 storage project

Cited by 117 publications

References 22 publications

Comparison of geomechanical deformation induced by megatonne-scale CO ₂ storage at Sleipner, Weyburn, and In Salah

Comparison of geomechanical deformation induced by megatonne-scale CO ₂ storage at Sleipner, Weyburn, and In Salah

Geomechanical behavior of the reservoir and caprock system at the In Salah CO ₂ storage project

Theoretical analysis of how pressure buildup and CO2 migration can both constrain storage capacity in deep saline aquifers

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A study of injection-induced mechanical deformation at the In Salah CO2 storage project

Cited by 117 publications

References 22 publications

Comparison of geomechanical deformation induced by megatonne-scale CO 2 storage at Sleipner, Weyburn, and In Salah

Comparison of geomechanical deformation induced by megatonne-scale CO 2 storage at Sleipner, Weyburn, and In Salah

Geomechanical behavior of the reservoir and caprock system at the In Salah CO 2 storage project

Theoretical analysis of how pressure buildup and CO2 migration can both constrain storage capacity in deep saline aquifers

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Comparison of geomechanical deformation induced by megatonne-scale CO ₂ storage at Sleipner, Weyburn, and In Salah

Comparison of geomechanical deformation induced by megatonne-scale CO ₂ storage at Sleipner, Weyburn, and In Salah

Geomechanical behavior of the reservoir and caprock system at the In Salah CO ₂ storage project