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Title: A Finite-Element Model for Simulation of Carbon Dioxide Sequestration

Abstract

Herein, we present a coupled thermal-hydro-mechanical model for geological sequestration of carbon dioxide followed by the stress, deformation, and shear-slip failure analysis. This fully coupled model considers the geomechanical response, fluid flow, and thermal transport relevant to geological sequestration. Both analytical solutions and numerical approach via finite element model are introduced for solving the thermal-hydro-mechanical model. Analytical solutions for pressure, temperature, deformation, and stress field were obtained for a simplified typical geological sequestration scenario. The finite element model is more general and can be used for arbitrary geometry. It was built on an open-source finite element code, Elmer, and was designed to simulate the entire period of CO2 injection (up to decades) both stably and accurately—even for large time steps. The shear-slip failure analysis was implemented based on the numerical results from the finite element model. The analysis reveals the potential failure zone caused by the fluid injection and thermal effect. From the simulation results, the thermal effect is shown to enhance well injectivity, especially at the early time of the injection. However, it also causes some side effects, such as the appearance of a small failure zone in the caprock. The coupled thermal-hydro-mechanical model improves prediction of displacement, stressmore » distribution, and potential failure zone compared to the model that neglects non-isothermal effects, especially in an area with high geothermal gradient.« less

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1168879
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-88505
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Geotechnics, 1(3):152-160
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Environmental Geotechnics, 1(3):152-160
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
geological sequestration; geomechanics; thermal-hydro-mechanical; analytical solution; finite element analysis; failure analysis

Citation Formats

Bao, Jie, Xu, Zhijie, and Fang, Yilin. A Finite-Element Model for Simulation of Carbon Dioxide Sequestration. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1680/envgeo.13.00024.
Bao, Jie, Xu, Zhijie, & Fang, Yilin. A Finite-Element Model for Simulation of Carbon Dioxide Sequestration. United States. https://doi.org/10.1680/envgeo.13.00024
Bao, Jie, Xu, Zhijie, and Fang, Yilin. 2014. "A Finite-Element Model for Simulation of Carbon Dioxide Sequestration". United States. https://doi.org/10.1680/envgeo.13.00024.
@article{osti_1168879,
title = {A Finite-Element Model for Simulation of Carbon Dioxide Sequestration},
author = {Bao, Jie and Xu, Zhijie and Fang, Yilin},
abstractNote = {Herein, we present a coupled thermal-hydro-mechanical model for geological sequestration of carbon dioxide followed by the stress, deformation, and shear-slip failure analysis. This fully coupled model considers the geomechanical response, fluid flow, and thermal transport relevant to geological sequestration. Both analytical solutions and numerical approach via finite element model are introduced for solving the thermal-hydro-mechanical model. Analytical solutions for pressure, temperature, deformation, and stress field were obtained for a simplified typical geological sequestration scenario. The finite element model is more general and can be used for arbitrary geometry. It was built on an open-source finite element code, Elmer, and was designed to simulate the entire period of CO2 injection (up to decades) both stably and accurately—even for large time steps. The shear-slip failure analysis was implemented based on the numerical results from the finite element model. The analysis reveals the potential failure zone caused by the fluid injection and thermal effect. From the simulation results, the thermal effect is shown to enhance well injectivity, especially at the early time of the injection. However, it also causes some side effects, such as the appearance of a small failure zone in the caprock. The coupled thermal-hydro-mechanical model improves prediction of displacement, stress distribution, and potential failure zone compared to the model that neglects non-isothermal effects, especially in an area with high geothermal gradient.},
doi = {10.1680/envgeo.13.00024},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1168879}, journal = {Environmental Geotechnics, 1(3):152-160},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}