Gouge formation and dilation impacts to flow during fracture shearing

Gill, Magdalena; Crandall, Dustin; Moore, Johnathan; Mackey, Paige; Brown, Sarah

doi:10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104920

Gouge formation and dilation impacts to flow during fracture shearing

Journal Article · Sat Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2021.104920· OSTI ID:1869699

^[1]; ^[2]; Moore, Johnathan ^[1]; Mackey, Paige ^[3]; ^[2]

National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Morgantown, WV (United States); National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Morgantown, WV (United States). Leidos Research Support Team
National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Morgantown, WV (United States)
National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Morgantown, WV (United States); Oak Ridge Inst. for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

We report flow in fractures is of critical importance to fluid flow in low-permeability shales, particularly when they restrict vertical migration from reservoirs. The Mt. Simon Sandstone is a target for geologic CO₂ sequestration and the overlying Eau Claire Formation is the sealing formation capping this reservoir. The lower Eau Claire, a primary barrier to upward migration of CO₂ from the Mt. Simon, is lithologically heterogenous with a mixture of sandstone and shale. We use a series of flow-through experiments on fractured samples from the Eau Claire to document the morphological changes taking place in the fracture and surrounding rock as it is sheared in a stepwise fashion. The samples were imaged using computed tomography after each shearing episode and flow resistance was calculated based on the pressure differential across each core. We found that gouge accumulations in the fracture plane led to specific instances of self-sealing behavior despite the fact that most samples increased in average fracture aperture and transmissivity. Gouge limited the increase or, in some cases, decreased flow through these samples. Fractures adjacent to shale-rich zones and concordant with bedding were more likely to show evidence of self-sealing, while increased sandstone content and fracture orientation perpendicular to bedding planes was more likely to result in fracture dilation and fracture permeability increases. Reactivation and shearing of vertical fractures in lithologically heterogenous caprocks is more likely to pose risks to long term CO₂ storage scenarios.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE); Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

Grant/Contract Number:: 89243318CFE000003

OSTI ID:: 1869699

Journal Information:: International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, Journal Name: International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences Journal Issue: None Vol. 147; ISSN 1365-1609

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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58 GEOSCIENCES
Eau Claire shale
computed tomography
fractured seals
geologic carbon storage

Gouge formation and dilation impacts to flow during fracture shearing

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