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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
AAPG Bulletin
Abstract
AAPG Bulletin, V.
DOI: 10.1306/09232219136
Swelling-induced self-sealing mechanism in fractured cap rock: Implications for carbon geosequestration
Hongyan Yu,1 Yihuai Zhang,2 Maxim Lebedev,3 Kun Meng,4 Sisi Chen,5 
Michael
Verrall,6 Lukman Johnson,7 and Stefan Iglauer8
Michael Verrall,6 Lukman Johnson,7 and Stefan Iglauer8
1State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an, China; WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia; [email protected]
2James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; [email protected]
3WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia; present address: Department of Geophysics, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; [email protected]
4State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an, China; [email protected]
5State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an, China; [email protected]
6Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australian Resource Research Centre, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia; [email protected]
7School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia; present address: Earth Sciences and Resource Engineering, CSIRO, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia; [email protected]
8School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia; present address: Department of Petroleum Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; [email protected]
Abstract
Carbon geosequestration (CGS) in geological formations is a technology that can drastically reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The CO2 injected into such storage formations is trapped beneath a cap rock, and it is thus obvious that cap rock sealing efficiency is an essential factor for secure CO2 storage. However, the exact effect of supercritical CO2 exposure to microfractured, clay-rich shale cap rock—note that shale cap rock commonly contains microfractures—is poorly understood. We imaged fractured cap rock shale samples before and after supercritical CO2 injection via x-ray micro computed tomography at high resolution in three dimensions (3.43 μm3) and representative reservoir conditions (i.e., a high pressure of 15 MPa and an elevated temperature of 50°C). Clearly, the fractures closed when flooded with supercritical CO2, which was most likely induced by clay swelling. As a consequence, the fracture permeability dramatically decreased, significantly increasing containment security and derisking CGS projects.
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