Semester of Graduation

Spring 2019

Degree

Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering (MSPE)

Department

Craft & Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Faults intersecting target geological CO2 storage zones have important implications for storage integrity. Potential leakage pathways due to fluid over-pressurization are investigated in this project to ensure long-term containment of injected CO2. Numerical flow simulations coupled with a geomechanical module are presented in this work with the purpose of determining the extent of CO2 up-fault migration, the driving mechanisms of leakage and the corresponding response of quantified pore pressure and stress variations.

This study uses dual-continuum models performed by using CMG (2017) to correctly account of flow through fractures in a fault damage zone. Numerical simulations were performed in three steps by gradually adding layers of complexity while ensuring the correctness of simulation results. As the first step, we verify our results by reproducing results published in the literature. In the second step, a simple geometry model including a vertical fault which is laterally sealing was simulated. The last model includes a fault resembling a real feature in a potential CO2 storage site in north Louisiana. Results for the three cases of study, where the initially dormant fractures of the damage zone become conductive with the inclusion of geomechanics, show migration of CO2 through the opened cracks into the overlying formations. Also, effective stresses along the damage zone show a generalized reduction with higher fracture permeabilities and increments in pore pressure.

Date

1-22-2019

Committee Chair

Zeidouni, Mehdi

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.4842

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