Synopsis: Development of reservoir engineering fluid flow models at the basin scale with which to investigate the connectivity of injection intervals and pore pressure evolution and magnitude
Project Status: active
Funding Source: 100% TexNet
Research Leaders: Jon Olson, Valerie Gono, Rich Schultz
Project Start: 1Q2016
Project Interface: Project interfaces closely with Hydrology: Fluid Budget Protocols, Data and Analysis, Faults and Geomodels, Basin-Scale Assessment of Fault Reactivation and Seismicity Potential, and Multi-Institutional and Industrial Collaboration for Geomechanical and Seismicity Assessment of the Ft. Worth Basin
Expected research outcomes:
- Basin-scale maps of pressure disturbance
- Flow models that include geologic heterogeneity and uncertainty to investigate geomechanical controls on fluid flow and pore pressure evolution
This project will extend and augment basin scale modeling (Valerie Gono, UT-PGE MS thesis). Her initial focus was on injection wells only and did not investigate the effects of geologic heterogeneity. Further work is needed to include faults and their impact on fluid flow, as well as canvassing available data for permeability determination. The goal is to highlight areas of pore pressure change and examine the plausibility of a causal relationship with induced seismicity. If a causal relationship is identified, additional reservoir engineering analyses will evaluate mitigation methods, such as the extent of the “fillable” reservoir for the injection wells and possible limits on allowable rates and pressures.
