PERMEABILITY EVOLUTION IN A FRACTURED ROCK MASS IN RESPONSE TO FLUID INJECTION
Large-scale carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects involving annual injections of millions of tons of CO2 are a key infrastructural element needed to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The large rate and volume of injection will induce pressure and stress gradients within the formation that could activate existing fractures and faults, or drive new fractures through the caprock. We will present results of an ongoing investigation to identify conditions that will activate existing fractures/faults or make new fractures within the caprock using the Livermore Distinct Element Code (LDEC). LDEC is a multiphysics code, developed at LLNL, capable of simulating dynamic fracture of rock masses under a range of conditions. We will present several demonstrations of LDEC functionality and applications of LDEC to CO2 injection scenarios including injection into an extensively fractured rock-mass. These examples highlight the advantages of explicitly including the geomechanical response of each interface within the rock-mass.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 945877
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-CONF-406303; TRN: US200903%%850
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Presented at: International Conference on Rock Joints and Jointed Rock Masses, Tucson, AZ, United States, Jan 07 - Jan 08, 2009
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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