Fault-Seal Analysis at Aquistore

Faulting might be affecting the flow of injected CO2 into the subsurface at the Aquistore Carbon Capture and Storage facility in southeastern Saskatchewan. 3D seismic data indicate that faulting affects the Deadwood Sandstone injection target approximately 100 m to the west of the injection well. The seismic data cannot however image all the structural complexity that is likely to be associated with the faulting. As such, predicting how or if that faulting affects the movement of CO2 is problematic; the fault could act as a conduit or a barrier.

This project supports a masters student in Earth Sciences at Western University. The student will adapt a seismic- and outcrop-based workflow, known as fault-seal analysis, that is used in the petroleum industry predict the effects of faults on the movement of gases and fluids. The product will be a 3D model of the stratigraphy and structure near the injector well. The model can be employed by reservoir engineers to simulate the movement of CO2, thereby allowing PTRC and its associates to make improved management decisions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Bruce Hart

Student:

Partner:

Petroleum Technology Research Centre

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Mining; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program: