Development of an Integrated Simulator for Coupled Flow, Geomechanics, and Geophysics Based on Sequential Approaches

Abstract

We have identified complex coupled physical processes exist in CO 2 sequestration or development of unconventional resources including shale gas plays and gas hydrate deposits. These coupled physical processes include multiphase flow, geomechanics, and geophysics, which requires a simulator that integrates those individual simulators to understand the complex physics in reservoir engineering. In this study, we first introduce how to integrate the individual existing simulators stably and effectively. Specifically, we focus on a sequential method that can provide numerical stability and accuracy. Then, we introduce an example of electromagnetic application to CO 2 sequestration.

Integration of Electromagnetic Geophysics Forward Simulation in Coupled Flow and Geomechanics for Monitoring a Gas Hydrate Deposit Located in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, Korea

“…The overall deposit that includes hydrate-bearing sand layers is simplified into four layers: overburden (Mud), (hydrate-bearing) sand interlayer (SS), mud interlayer (Mud), and underburden (Mud) (see Figure 4). Geomechanical properties, K dr and G dr , follow Equations ( 29) and (30), respectively. k denotes the isotropic permeability value and Φ 0 indicates the initial porosity.…”

“…The proposed EM methods can also further be expanded in various forms to estimate the bulk amount of gas extraction/production from the gas hydrate deposits as well as evaluate any unfavorable potential leak of methane during production. It is a promising tool that can be applied to other subsurface flow monitoring (e.g., the CO 2 geological storage [30,31]) with an appropriate rock physics model.…”