The influence of fracture anisotropy on CO 2 flow

• Published in: Geophysical research letters 2013-04, Vol.40 (7), p.1284-1289
• Main Authors: Bond, Clare E., Wightman, Ruth, Ringrose, Philip S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1002/grl.50313

Greenhouse gas mitigation through geological storage of carbon dioxide is dependent on rock formations storing CO 2 effectively. Secure containment for periods of 100 × 10 5 years nee7ds to be verifiable. The effectiveness of geological storage is reliant on the chemical and physical properties of the geological storage complex and its ability to inhibit migration of CO 2 . Petroleum reservoir data and field evidence show that fracture networks often act as pathways for fluid movement, potentially allowing fluids to migrate to the surface within the time scale of interest. We demonstrate the importance of predicting the effects of fracture networks on flow, using a case study from the In Salah CO 2 storage site, and show how fracture permeability is closely controlled by the stress regime determining the conductive fracture network. Our results demonstrate that fracture network prediction combined with present‐day stress analysis can be used to successfully predict CO 2 movement in the subsurface. CO2 migration in the sub‐surface is controlled by conductive fractures CO2 migration is anisotropic Present day stress controls the conductive fracture network