Deformation bands in high-porosity sandstones: do they help or hinder CO2 migration and storage in geological formations?

Azadeh Pourmalek, Andrew Newell, Seyed M. Shariatipour, Andrew Butcher , Antoni Milodowski, Mohammadreza Bagheri, Adrian Wood

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
164 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Small-scale deformation bands in Penrith Sandstone are used to assess the extent to which these features can act as effective mini-traps and contribute to secure CO 2 geological storage. A comprehensive set of simulation scenarios is applied to one conjugate set of deformation bands and also to clusters of deformation bands, to evaluate the effects of i) deformation band density; ii) the contrast in host rock/deformation band permeability; and iii) deformation band geometry, orientation and distribution on fluid movement and its significance for CO 2 storage capacity and security. The findings of this study show that one conjugate set of deformation bands can improve CO 2 storage security, depending upon the plunge angle of the hinge. It has also been demonstrated that a high contrast in permeability (at least three orders of magnitude) is necessary for the CO 2 to be effectively trapped by the deformation bands. It is shown that the highest number of bands observed and modelled for Penrith Sandstone outcrop, with three orders of magnitude permeability contrast, is a configuration that can contribute to the secure storage of CO 2 without causing an injectivity issue. This study shows that storage security is not only controlled by the contrast in permeability, but also by the permeability of the host rock. Furthermore, some geometries may contribute to storage security, while others may compromise it. To improve storage capacity and security for the type of reservoir studied herein, the results demonstrate the importance of accounting for the optimum injection rate and well placement.

Original languageEnglish
Article number103292
Number of pages19
JournalInternational Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Volume107
Early online date11 Mar 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2021

Funder

AP would like to thank the Centre for Fluid and Complex Systems, Coventry University, UK for providing financial support for this project.

Keywords

  • Carbon capture and storage
  • Deformation bands
  • Geological CO storage

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pollution
  • Energy(all)
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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