De-risking fault leakage risk and containment integrity for subsurface storage applications

Bisdom, Kevin; Chan, Alvin W.

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.109957

Title: De-risking fault leakage risk and containment integrity for subsurface storage applications

Journal Article · 09 May 2024 · iScience

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.109957 · OSTI ID:2472282

^[1]; Chan, Alvin W. ^[2]

Shell Global Solutions International B.V., The Hague (Netherlands); Shell Global Solutions, Aberdeen (United Kingdom)
Shell Global Solutions U.K., Aberdeen (United Kingdom)

The subsurface is pivotal in the energy transition, for the sequestration of CO₂ and energy storage. It is crucial to understand to what extent geological faults may form leakage pathways that threaten the containment integrity of these projects. Fault flow behavior has been studied in the context of hydrocarbon development, supported by observations from wells drilled through faults, but such observations are rare in geoenergy projects. Focusing on mechanical behavior as early indicator of potential leakage risks, a probabilistic Coulomb Failure Stress workflow is developed and demonstrated using data from the Decatur CO₂ sequestration project to rank faults based on their containment risk. The analysis emphasizes the importance of fault throw relative to reservoir thickness and pore pressure change in assessing reactivation risks. Integrating this mechanical assessment with geological and dynamic fault analyses contributes to derisking fault containment for geoenergy applications, providing valuable insights for the successful development of subsurface storage projects.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)

Grant/Contract Number:: FC26-05NT42588

OSTI ID:: 2472282

Journal Information:: iScience, Journal Name: iScience Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 27; ISSN 2589-0042

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (53)

Characterization of induced seismicity patterns derived from internal structure in event clusters: CHARACTERIZATION OF INDUCED SEISMICITY Goertz-Allmann, B. P.; Gibbons, S. J.; Oye, V. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 122, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013731	journal	May 2017
Frictional Properties of Simulated Fault Gouges from the Seismogenic Groningen Gas Field Under In Situ P - T -Chemical Conditions : Friction of Groningen fault gouges Hunfeld, L. B.; Niemeijer, A. R.; Spiers, C. J. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 122, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JB014876	journal	November 2017
Permeability Variations Associated With Fault Reactivation in a Claystone Formation Investigated by Field Experiments and Numerical Simulations Jeanne, Pierre; Guglielmi, Yves; Rutqvist, Jonny Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 123, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JB015149	journal	February 2018
Geologic storage of carbon dioxide as a climate change mitigation strategy: performance requirements and the implications of surface seepage Hepple, R. P.; Benson, S. M. Environmental Geology, Vol. 47, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1181-2	journal	November 2004
Analysis of fault leakage from Leroy underground natural gas storage facility, Wyoming, USA Chen, Mingjie; Buscheck, Thomas A.; Wagoner, Jeffrey L. Hydrogeology Journal, Vol. 21, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1020-1	journal	August 2013
Multiphysics modeling of CO2 sequestration in a faulted saline formation in Italy Castelletto, Nicola; Teatini, Pietro; Gambolati, Giuseppe Advances in Water Resources, Vol. 62 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2013.04.006	journal	December 2013
Fault zone hydrogeology Bense, V. F.; Gleeson, T.; Loveless, S. E. Earth-Science Reviews, Vol. 127 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2013.09.008	journal	December 2013
Can Fault Leakage Occur Before or Without Reactivation? Results from an in Situ Fault Reactivation Experiment at Mont Terri Guglielmi, Yves; Birkholzer, Jens; Rutqvist, Jonny Energy Procedia, Vol. 114 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1445	journal	July 2017
The Quest CCS Project: 1st Year Review Post Start of Injection Rock, Luc; O’Brien, Simon; Tessarolo, Stephen Energy Procedia, Vol. 114 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1654	journal	July 2017
The CCS hub in Norway: some insights from 22 years of saline aquifer storage Ringrose, Philip S. Energy Procedia, Vol. 146 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2018.07.021	journal	July 2018
Wettability of shale–brine–H2 system and H2-brine interfacial tension for assessment of the sealing capacities of shale formations during underground hydrogen storage Al-Mukainah, Hani; Al-Yaseri, Ahmed; Yekeen, Nurudeen Energy Reports, Vol. 8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2022.07.004	journal	November 2022
Estimating maximum sustainable injection pressure during geological sequestration of CO2 using coupled fluid flow and geomechanical fault-slip analysis Rutqvist, J.; Birkholzer, J.; Cappa, F. Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 48, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2007.01.021	journal	June 2007
Fault-controlled CO 2 leakage from natural reservoirs in the Colorado Plateau, East-Central Utah Jung, Na-Hyun; Han, Weon Shik; Watson, Z. T. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 403 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2014.07.012	journal	October 2014
Stress-based forecasting of induced seismicity with instantaneous earthquake failure functions: Applications to the Groningen gas reservoir Smith, Jonathan D.; Heimisson, Elías R.; Bourne, Stephen J. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 594 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117697	journal	September 2022
Modeling of coupled deformation and permeability evolution during fault reactivation induced by deep underground injection of CO2 Cappa, Frédéric; Rutqvist, Jonny International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol. 5, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2010.08.005	journal	March 2011
Overview of microseismic response to CO2 injection into the Mt. Simon saline reservoir at the Illinois Basin-Decatur Project Bauer, Robert A.; Carney, Michael; Finley, Robert J. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol. 54 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2015.12.015	journal	November 2016
Experimental investigation of injection pressure effects on fault reactivation for CO2 storage Cerasi, Pierre; Stroisz, Anna; Sønstebø, Eyvind International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol. 78 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.08.011	journal	November 2018
Quest carbon capture and storage offset project: Findings and learnings from 1st reporting period Duong, Celina; Bower, Charles; Hume, Ken International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol. 89 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2019.06.001	journal	October 2019
Modelling of long-term along-fault flow of CO2 from a natural reservoir Snippe, Jeroen; Kampman, Niko; Bisdom, Kevin International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Vol. 118 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2022.103666	journal	July 2022
Why Mohr-circle analyses may underestimate the risk of fault reactivation in depleting reservoirs van den Bogert, P. A. J.; van Eijs, R. M. H. E. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, Vol. 136 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2020.104502	journal	December 2020
Fault activation and induced seismicity in geological carbon storage – Lessons learned from recent modeling studies Rutqvist, Jonny; Rinaldi, Antonio P.; Cappa, Frederic Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 8, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2016.09.001	journal	December 2016
Structural controls on leakage from a natural CO2 geologic storage site: Central Utah, U.S.A. Dockrill, Ben; Shipton, Zoe K. Journal of Structural Geology, Vol. 32, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2010.01.007	journal	November 2010
Clay smear: Review of mechanisms and applications Vrolijk, Peter J.; Urai, Janos L.; Kettermann, Michael Journal of Structural Geology, Vol. 86 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2015.09.006	journal	May 2016
Along-strike permeability variation in carbonate-hosted fault zones Michie, E. A. H.; Kaminskaite, I.; Cooke, A. P. Journal of Structural Geology, Vol. 142 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2020.104236	journal	January 2021
Calculation of CO2 column heights in depleted gas fields from known pre-production gas column heights Naylor, M.; Wilkinson, M.; Haszeldine, R. S. Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 28, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2010.10.005	journal	May 2011
Topseal integrity assessment using seal properties and leakage phenomena Foschi, M.; Van Rensbergen, P. Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 139 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2022.105573	journal	May 2022
Stochastic quantification of CO2 fault sealing capacity in sand-shale sequences Zheng, Xiaojin; Espinoza, D. Nicolas Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 146 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2022.105961	journal	December 2022
Modeling potential CO2 leakage rate along a fault in Mahogany Field Tao, Qing; Alexander, David; Bryant, Steven L. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Vol. 111 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2013.10.003	journal	November 2013
Faults as conduit-barrier systems to fluid flow in siliciclastic sedimentary aquifers: FAULTS AS CONDUIT-BARRIER SYSTEMS Bense, V. F.; Person, M. A. Water Resources Research, Vol. 42, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1029/2005WR004480	journal	May 2006
Nucleation and Arrest of Dynamic Rupture Induced by Reservoir Depletion Buijze, L.; Bogert, P. A. J.; Wassing, B. B. T. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 124, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016941	journal	April 2019
Insights From Closed‐Form Expressions for Injection‐ and Production‐Induced Stresses in Displaced Faults Jansen, J. D.; Singhal, P.; Vossepoel, F. C. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 124, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB017932	journal	July 2019
A Systematic Investigation Into the Control of Roughness on the Flow Properties of 3D‐Printed Fractures Phillips, Tomos; Bultreys, Tom; Bisdom, Kevin Water Resources Research, Vol. 57, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1029/2020WR028671	journal	April 2021
Observational evidence confirms modelling of the long-term integrity of CO2-reservoir caprocks Kampman, N.; Busch, A.; Bertier, P. Nature Communications, Vol. 7, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12268	journal	July 2016
Fluid migration in low-permeability faults driven by decoupling of fault slip and opening Cappa, Frédéric; Guglielmi, Yves; Nussbaum, Christophe Nature Geoscience, Vol. 15, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-022-00993-4	journal	August 2022
420,000 year assessment of fault leakage rates shows geological carbon storage is secure Miocic, Johannes M.; Gilfillan, Stuart M. V.; Frank, Norbert Scientific Reports, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36974-0	journal	January 2019
Maturing global CO2 storage resources on offshore continental margins to achieve 2DS emissions reductions Ringrose, P. S.; Meckel, T. A. Scientific Reports, Vol. 9, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54363-z	journal	November 2019
Enabling large-scale hydrogen storage in porous media – the scientific challenges Heinemann, Niklas; Alcalde, Juan; Miocic, Johannes M. Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 14, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE03536J	journal	January 2021
3-D mechanical analysis of complex reservoirs: a novel mesh-free approach van Wees, Jan-Diederik; Pluymaekers, Maarten; Osinga, Sander Geophysical Journal International, Vol. 219, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggz352	journal	August 2019
Net-zero emissions energy systems Davis, Steven J.; Lewis, Nathan S.; Shaner, Matthew Science, Vol. 360, Issue 6396 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aas9793	journal	June 2018
Fluid flow along potentially active faults in crystalline rock Barton, Colleen A.; Zoback, Mark D.; Moos, Daniel Geology, Vol. 23, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0683:FFAPAF>2.3.CO;2	journal	January 1995
Fault reactivation and fluid flow along a previously dormant normal fault in the northern North Sea Wiprut, David; Zoback, Mark D. Geology, Vol. 28, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<595:FRAFFA>2.0.CO;2	journal	January 2000
Probabilistic assessment of potential fault slip related to injection-induced earthquakes: Application to north-central Oklahoma, USA Walsh, F. Rall; Zoback, Mark D. Geology, Vol. 44, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1130/G38275.1	journal	October 2016
Fault permeability from stochastic modeling of clay smears Saló-Salgado, Lluís; Davis, Steven; Juanes, Ruben Geology, Vol. 51, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1130/G50739.1	journal	December 2022
Fault seal prediction: the gouge ratio method Freeman, B.; Yielding, G.; Needham, D. T. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, Vol. 127, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1998.127.01.03	journal	January 1998
Faulting, fault sealing and fluid flow in hydrocarbon reservoirs: an introduction Knipe, R. J.; Jones, G.; Fisher, Q. J. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, Vol. 147, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.1998.147.01.01	journal	January 1998
Recent advances in the understanding of fault zone internal structure: a review Wibberley, Christopher A. J.; Yielding, Graham; Di Toro, Giulio Geological Society, London, Special Publications, Vol. 299, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1144/SP299.2	journal	January 2008
Fault seal calibration: a brief review Yielding, G.; Bretan, P.; Freeman, B. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, Vol. 347, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1144/SP347.14	journal	January 2010
Toward the creation of models to predict static and dynamic fault-seal potential in carbonates Solum, J. G.; Huisman, B. A. H. Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 23, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2016-044	journal	September 2016
Injection‐Induced Seismicity and Fault‐Slip Potential in the Fort Worth Basin, Texas Hennings, Peter H.; Lund Snee, Jens‐Erik; Osmond, Johnathon L. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Vol. 109, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1785/0120190017	journal	July 2019
Analysis of Microseismicity and Reactivated Fault Size to Assess the Potential for Felt Events by CO2 Injection in the Illinois Basin Williams-Stroud, Sherilyn; Bauer, Robert; Leetaru, Hannes Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Vol. 110, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1785/0120200112	journal	August 2020
Building confidence in CCS: From Sleipner to the Northern Lights Project Furre, A. -K.; Meneguolo, R.; Ringrose, P. First Break, Vol. 37, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.3997/1365-2397.n0038	journal	July 2019
Uncertainty in fault seal parameters: implications for CO 2 column height retention and storage capacity in geological CO 2 storage projects Miocic, Johannes M.; Johnson, Gareth; Bond, Clare E. Solid Earth, Vol. 10, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-951-2019	journal	January 2019
Stress field orientation controls on fault leakage at a natural CO₂ reservoir Miocic, Johannes M.; Johnson, Gareth; Gilfillan, Stuart M. V. Solid Earth, Vol. 11, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1361-2020	journal	January 2020

Similar Records

Leakage Risk Assessment for a Potential CO₂ Storage Project in Saskatchewan, Canada

Technical Report · 2011 · OSTI ID:1048266

Houseworth, J. E.; Oldenburg, C. M.; Mazzoldi, A.; +3 more

Probability Estimation of CO2 Leakage Through Faults at Geologic Carbon Sequestration Sites

Conference · 2008 · OSTI ID:946458

Zhang, Yingqi; Oldenburg, Curt; Finsterle, Stefan; +2 more

Physics-informed machine learning for fault-leakage reduced-order modeling

Journal Article · 2023 · International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control · OSTI ID:1963647

Meguerdijian, Saro; Pawar, Rajesh J.; Chen, Bailian; +3 more

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
Energy resources
Geology
Methods in earth sciences
Petrophysics
Science & Technology

Title: De-risking fault leakage risk and containment integrity for subsurface storage applications

Citation Formats

References (53)

Similar Records

Related Subjects