A Stability Assessment of Fault-Caprock Trapping Systems for CO 2 Storage in Saline Aquifer Layers Using a Coupled THMC Model

Mingying Xie, Shenghao Wang (), Shasha Feng, Chao Xu, Xisheng Li, Xiaona Sun, Yueqiang Ma (), Quan Gan and Tao Wang
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Mingying Xie: CNOOC (China) Ltd., Shenzhen 518054, China
Shenghao Wang: CNOOC (China) Ltd., Shenzhen 518054, China
Shasha Feng: CNOOC (China) Ltd., Shenzhen 518054, China
Chao Xu: CNOOC (China) Ltd., Shenzhen 518054, China
Xisheng Li: CNOOC (China) Ltd., Shenzhen 518054, China
Xiaona Sun: CNOOC (China) Ltd., Shenzhen 518054, China
Yueqiang Ma: State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Quan Gan: State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Tao Wang: State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-28

Abstract: Deep saline aquifers provide significant potential for CO 2 storage and are crucial in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). However, ensuring the long-term safe storage of CO 2 remains challenging due to the complexity of coupled thermal, hydrological, mechanical, and chemical (THMC) processes. This study is one of a few to incorporate fault-controlled reservoir structures in the Enping 15-1 oilfield to simulate the performance of CO 2 geological storage. A systematic analysis of factors influencing CO 2 storage safety, such as the trap area, aquifer layer thickness, caprock thickness, reservoir permeability, and reservoir porosity, was conducted. We identified the parameters with the most significant impact on storage performance and provided suitable values to enhance storage safety. The results show that a large trap area and aquifer thickness are critical for site selection. Low permeability and large caprock thickness prevent CO 2 from escaping, which is important for long-term and stable storage. These findings contribute to developing site-specific guidelines for CO 2 storage in faulted reservoirs.

Keywords: CO 2 storage; THMC coupling; fault stability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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