Simulation of Multiphase Flow and Poromechanical Effects Around Injection Wells in CO2 Storage Sites.
Saved in:
| Title: | Simulation of Multiphase Flow and Poromechanical Effects Around Injection Wells in CO |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Huang, Jian1 (AUTHOR) jian.huang@totalenergies.com, Hamon, François1 (AUTHOR), Cusini, Matteo2 (AUTHOR), Gazzola, Thomas1 (AUTHOR), Settgast, Randolph R.2 (AUTHOR), White, Joshua A.2 (AUTHOR), Gross, Herve1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Rock Mechanics & Rock Engineering. May2026, Vol. 59 Issue 5, p5743-5766. 24p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Multiphase flow, *Injection wells, *Elastoplasticity, *Poroelasticity, *Carbon sequestration, *Rock mechanics, *Computer simulation |
| Abstract: | In geological CO2 storage operations, wellbore deformations and leakage pathways formations can occur around injection and abandoned wells subjected to high rates and long-term CO2 injection. To guide engineering design and prevent CO2 leakage risks, a full understanding of the underlying physics and robust numerical models is necessary to evaluate the response of underground formations in the near wellbore region and in the reservoir. In this study, a multi-scale and multi-physics open-source simulator (GEOS) is used to simulate multiphase flow and poromechanical deformations over time in three dimensions. The governing equations for mechanical deformations of the rock body and multiphase compositional fluid flow within the rock matrix are solved with a fully coupled finite element and finite volume approach. The Drucker–Prager model with friction hardening is applied to simulate elastoplastic deformation and a multiphase fluid model with power-law correlations for relative permeability is used to model the migration of CO2 plume, which are coupled with numerical implicit scheme. Simulation results are verified against multiple analytical solutions for multiphase flow and wellbore problems, thus demonstrating the accuracy of this advanced simulator. In two engineering applications, we highlight the impact of elastoplastic deformation and coupled modeling for assessing induced displacements and stress perturbations, which are more pronounced in the near wellbore regions. This work focuses on short-term processes in the vicinity of injection wells where stress evolutions, rock deformations and multiphase compositional flow and transport are simulated jointly to ensure wellbore stability and prevent damage. This fully coupled geomechanical model can simulate multiphase flow and any associated poromechanical effects within the CO2 storage site and in the surrounding formations. Such a large-scale, long-term, multi-physics simulation model is useful in many ways: it can guide operational decisions for CO2 injection, assess the containment potential and risks of a site, and analyze the wellbore stability and integrity during and after CO2 injection. Highlights. We introduce a fully coupled finite element/finite volume approach to simulate multiphase fluid flow and the associated rock deformations. This approach highlights how the coupling between rock deformations and multiphase fluid flow impacts short-term mechanical responses in the vicinity of the injection wells. The results of this numerical model are successfully verified against reference analytical solutions for multiphase flow and wellbore problems. We have tested the approach using both poroelastic and poroplastic deformations on an engineering problem, demonstrating the important effects of plasticity in CO2 injection scenario. This work contributes to better operational decisions for designing CO2 injection operations by assessing the containment potential of a site, and by analyzing the wellbore integrity during and after CO2 injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Database: | Energy & Power Source |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | In geological CO2 storage operations, wellbore deformations and leakage pathways formations can occur around injection and abandoned wells subjected to high rates and long-term CO2 injection. To guide engineering design and prevent CO2 leakage risks, a full understanding of the underlying physics and robust numerical models is necessary to evaluate the response of underground formations in the near wellbore region and in the reservoir. In this study, a multi-scale and multi-physics open-source simulator (GEOS) is used to simulate multiphase flow and poromechanical deformations over time in three dimensions. The governing equations for mechanical deformations of the rock body and multiphase compositional fluid flow within the rock matrix are solved with a fully coupled finite element and finite volume approach. The Drucker–Prager model with friction hardening is applied to simulate elastoplastic deformation and a multiphase fluid model with power-law correlations for relative permeability is used to model the migration of CO2 plume, which are coupled with numerical implicit scheme. Simulation results are verified against multiple analytical solutions for multiphase flow and wellbore problems, thus demonstrating the accuracy of this advanced simulator. In two engineering applications, we highlight the impact of elastoplastic deformation and coupled modeling for assessing induced displacements and stress perturbations, which are more pronounced in the near wellbore regions. This work focuses on short-term processes in the vicinity of injection wells where stress evolutions, rock deformations and multiphase compositional flow and transport are simulated jointly to ensure wellbore stability and prevent damage. This fully coupled geomechanical model can simulate multiphase flow and any associated poromechanical effects within the CO2 storage site and in the surrounding formations. Such a large-scale, long-term, multi-physics simulation model is useful in many ways: it can guide operational decisions for CO2 injection, assess the containment potential and risks of a site, and analyze the wellbore stability and integrity during and after CO2 injection. Highlights. We introduce a fully coupled finite element/finite volume approach to simulate multiphase fluid flow and the associated rock deformations. This approach highlights how the coupling between rock deformations and multiphase fluid flow impacts short-term mechanical responses in the vicinity of the injection wells. The results of this numerical model are successfully verified against reference analytical solutions for multiphase flow and wellbore problems. We have tested the approach using both poroelastic and poroplastic deformations on an engineering problem, demonstrating the important effects of plasticity in CO2 injection scenario. This work contributes to better operational decisions for designing CO2 injection operations by assessing the containment potential of a site, and by analyzing the wellbore integrity during and after CO2 injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 07232632 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00603-024-04051-w |
