HR: 1340h
AN: GC13A-1207    [Abstracts]
TI: Geomechanical Applications to the Characterization of a Deep Saline Reservoir for CO2 Sequestration
AU: * Lucier, A M
EM: luciera@pangea.stanford.edu
AF: Stanford University, Department of Geophysics 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, CA 94305 United States
AU: Zoback, M D
EM: zoback@pangea.stanford.edu
AF: Stanford University, Department of Geophysics 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, CA 94305 United States
AU: Gupta, N
EM: gupta@battelle.org
AF: Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 United States
AU: Ramakrishnan, T
EM: tsramakrishnan@ridgefield.oilfield.slb.com
AF: Schlumberger-Doll Research Laboratory, 36 Old Quarry Rd, Ridgefield, CT 06877 United States
AB: The Ohio River Valley CO2 Storage Project is an ongoing characterization of deep saline formations as a potential site for CO2 sequestration. In this study, we characterize the geomechanical constraints on CO2 sequestration at the American Electric Power's 1.3 GW Mountaineer Power Plant in New Haven, West Virginia. Using data collected at this site, we carried out a geomechanical analysis of a potential injection zone, the Rose Run sandstone, and adjacent formations to assess the suitability of this site for long-term storage of anthropogenic CO2. Due to the low to moderate porosity and permeability of the potential injection zones, it is likely that hydraulic fracturing of the injection zones and/or utilization of horizontal injection wells will be necessary to increase injectivity and capacity and allow for a more effective sequestration. The results of the geomechanical analysis are applied to three key investigations. First, the results of the geomechanical analysis were used to examine the increased injectivity that would result from the implementation of hydraulic fracture stimulation in the Rose Run injection zone. We determined the injection pressure needed to create a hydraulic fracture in the Rose Run and the azimuth at which this fracture would propagate. Using local and regional data and geostatistical methods, we examined the uncertainty associated with modeling aquifer properties with the limited data available for the deep formations in the Appalachian Basin. We then incorporated the results of the geomechanical analysis with the aquifer model in CO2 injection flow simulations. With multiple geostatistical realizations of reservoir flow parameters, we investigated the benefits of introducing a hydraulic fracture to increase injectivity at the site. Second, we examined the feasibility of incorporating horizontal wells by investigating stability as a function of well orientation given the state of stress determined from the geomechanical analysis. Finally, the results of the geomechanical analysis provide insight on the issues involved in understanding the potential for injection-induced seismicity on possible pre-existing faults during CO2 sequestration. We determined the magnitudes of pressure perturbations due to injection that could lead to slip on faults of various orientations, and identified which fault orientations would be most likely to slip if they were to exist near the injection zone.
DE: 1600 GLOBAL CHANGE
DE: 8168 Stresses: general
DE: 9350 North America
SC: Global Climate Change [GC]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005