A simple approach for the estimation of CO2 penetration depth into a caprock layer

• Published in: Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
• Main Authors: J.G. Wang, Yang Ju, Feng Gao, Jia Liu
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2016
• Subjects: Fracture-matrix system; Fully coupled model; Two-phase flow model; Square root law; Simple approach; CO2 penetration depth; Caprock sealing efficiency; Engineering geology. Rock mechanics. Soil mechanics. Underground construction; TA703-712; Carbonic acid
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2015.10.002; https://doaj.org/article/c91ea75b1afc4195961dc4f2ca5a6e26

Caprock is a water-saturated formation with a sufficient entry capillary pressure to prevent the upward migration of a buoyant fluid. When the entry capillary pressure of caprock is smaller than the pressure exerted by the buoyant CO2 plume, CO2 gradually penetrates into the caprock. The CO2 penetration depth into a caprock layer can be used to measure the caprock sealing efficiency and becomes the key issue to the assessment of caprock sealing efficiency. On the other hand, our numerical simulations on a caprock layer have revealed that a square root law for time and pore pressure exists for the CO2 penetration into the caprock layer. Based on this finding, this study proposes a simple approach to estimate the CO2 penetration depth into a caprock layer. This simple approach is initially developed to consider the speed of CO2 invading front. It explicitly expresses the penetration depth with pressuring time, pressure difference and pressure magnitude. This simple approach is then used to fit three sets of experimental data and good fittings are observed regardless of pressures, strengths of porous media, and pore fluids (water, hydrochloric acid, and carbonic acid). Finally, theoretical analyses are conducted to explore those factors affecting CO2 penetration depth. The effects of capillary pressure, gas sorption induced swelling, and fluid property are then included in this simple approach. These results show that this simple approach can predict the penetration depth into a caprock layer with sufficient accuracy, even if complicated interactions in penetration process are not explicitly expressed in this simple formula.