About This Item
- Full TextFull Text(subscription required)
- Pay-Per-View PurchasePay-Per-View
Purchase Options Explain
Share This Item
The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
Environmental Geosciences (DEG)
Abstract
Environmental Geosciences, V.
2014. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists/Division of Environmental Geosciences. All rights reserved.
DOI: 10.1306/eg.05011414003
An evaluation of the seal capacity and CO2 retention properties of the Eau Claire Formation (Cambrian)
Richard Lahann,1 John Rupp,2 and Cristian Medina3
1Indiana Geological Survey, Bloomington, Indiana; [email protected]
2Indiana Geological Survey, Bloomington, Indiana; [email protected]
3Indiana Geological Survey, Bloomington, Indiana; [email protected]
ABSTRACT
The Eau Claire Formation of the midwestern United States was evaluated for its potential use as a confining unit (seal) overlying a sandstone reservoir to securely store injected . This evaluation included: (1) lithofacies composition and distribution, (2) capillary entry pressure
analysis
, and (3) fluid- and fracture-pressure
analysis
. The regional distribution of lithofacies in the Eau Claire was evaluated by examination of core and
log
data from selected wells across the study area.
Log
data were used to define electro-lithofacies, which are spatially variable and represent a mixture of shale, siltstone, sandstone, limestone, and dolomite. Because of the significant variation in lithofacies and the complex spatial distribution, the entire interval should be considered in evaluating the seal capacity of the unit at a given locality. Mercury-injection capillary pressure (MICP) data were obtained on 17 samples of Eau Claire lithofacies ranging from muddy shale to sand/silt to evaluate the potential for capillary entry of fluids into the pore system of the lithofacies of the unit. Interpretation of these data indicated capillary failure of the muddy shale lithofacies is unlikely. However, many of the MICP samples contain millimeter-scale silt/sand interbeds, which would probably allow
entry but, because these beds commonly have very limited lateral continuity, they are very unlikely to provide pathways for large-scale
leakage through the interval. Evaluation of structural settings, lithostatic and existing formation aquifer pressures in the Eau Claire, in conjunction with the height of
columns stored in the underlying Mount Simon Sandstone (Cambrian), suggest that fluid pressures induced by a static buoyant
plume are unlikely to induce fractures in the formation. However, elevation of the aquifer pressure during injection may be capable of creating fractures within the unit.
Pay-Per-View Purchase Options
The article is available through a document delivery service. Explain these Purchase Options.
Watermarked PDF Document: $14 | |
Open PDF Document: $24 |