Two-phase fluid flow properties of cataclastic fault rocks: Implications for CO2 storage in saline aquifers

Research Article| January 01, 2012 Two-phase fluid flow properties of cataclastic fault rocks: Implications for CO2 storage in saline aquifers Christian Tueckmantel; Christian Tueckmantel * 1Centre for Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK *Current address: Shell Global Solutions International B.V., Kessler Park 1, 2288 GS Rijswijk, Netherlands. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Quentin J. Fisher; Quentin J. Fisher 1Centre for Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Tom Manzocchi; Tom Manzocchi 2Fault Analysis Group, School of Geological Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sergey Skachkov; Sergey Skachkov 1Centre for Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Carlos A. Grattoni Carlos A. Grattoni 3Rock Deformation Research Limited, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Christian Tueckmantel * 1Centre for Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK Quentin J. Fisher 1Centre for Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK Tom Manzocchi 2Fault Analysis Group, School of Geological Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland Sergey Skachkov 1Centre for Integrated Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK Carlos A. Grattoni 3Rock Deformation Research Limited, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK *Current address: Shell Global Solutions International B.V., Kessler Park 1, 2288 GS Rijswijk, Netherlands. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 29 May 2011 Revision Received: 08 Aug 2011 Accepted: 16 Aug 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2012 Geological Society of America Geology (2012) 40 (1): 39–42. https://doi.org/10.1130/G32508.1 Article history Received: 29 May 2011 Revision Received: 08 Aug 2011 Accepted: 16 Aug 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Christian Tueckmantel, Quentin J. Fisher, Tom Manzocchi, Sergey Skachkov, Carlos A. Grattoni; Two-phase fluid flow properties of cataclastic fault rocks: Implications for CO2 storage in saline aquifers. Geology 2012;; 40 (1): 39–42. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G32508.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Fault rocks can function as barriers to subsurface fluid flow and affect the storage of CO2 in geological structures. Even though flow across faults often involves more than one fluid phase, it is typically modeled using only single-phase functions due to a lack of fault rock relative permeability data and complexities in incorporating two-phase flow properties into flow simulations. Here we present two-phase fluid flow data for cataclastic fault rocks in porous sandstone from the 90-Fathom fault (northeast England). The study area represents a field analogue for North Sea saline aquifers of Permian–Triassic age that are currently being considered for CO2 storage. We use the experimental data to populate a synthetic model of a faulted saline aquifer to assess the impact of these fault rocks on CO2 injection. We show that even fault rocks with low clay contents and very limited quartz cementation can act as major baffles to the flow of a non-wetting phase if realistic two-phase properties are taken into account. Consequently, pressure may increase far more rapidly in the storage compartment during CO2 injection than anticipated based on models that only incorporate absolute fault rock permeabilities. To avoid high pressures, which may lead to hydrofracturing and CO2 leakage, either more complex injection strategies need to be adopted or seismic data acquired to ensure the absence of faults in aquifers selected for CO2 storage. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.