Effects of thermal stresses on caprock integrity during CO2 storage

Gennady Yu Gor, Thomas R. Elliot, Jean H. Prévost

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

79 Scopus citations

Abstract

Subsurface fluid injection results in a pore pressure increase, which induces geomechanical stresses. Additionally, if there exists a difference between the ambient formation temperature and the temperature of injected fluid, thermal stresses can develop. Herein we study the effect of CO2 injection temperature on caprock integrity using coupled thermo-poromechanical multi-phase simulations. Calculations show that when CO2 is injected within several years at a temperature below the ambient value in the formation, the stresses above the horizontal injection well lead to tensile or shear failure of the caprock. We study the sensitivity of resulting stresses to the injection temperature, caprock density and initial in situ stresses. We also show that the caprock failure can lead to propagating fractures, which may serve as pathways for CO2 leakage. Based on the results of our simulations we estimate the rate of fracture propagation and study the effect of caprock permeability on this rate. Our results show that injection of CO2 at temperature close to the ambient value in the aquifer significantly reduces the risk of caprock fracturing and, therefore, of possible leakage.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)300-309
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Volume12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pollution
  • General Energy
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Keywords

  • Coupled thermo-poromechanics
  • Fracturing
  • In Salah
  • Thermal stresses

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