Over the past decade significant progress made understanding the chemical and mechanical process that lead to decreases in well permeability observed in experiment.  Understanding these processes is important because wells are potential pathways for leakage of fluids from carbon storage reservoirs and pose risks for groundwater contamination. The unexpected outcome that chemical alteration decrease well permeability is attributed to both compression of the altered cement and precipitation of carbonate minerals in damage zones.  In this presentation, we not only review the detailed chemical and mechanical processes, but use the resulting multi-phase chemical – mechanical – transport model to assess the temporal and spatial scales where the reaction of alkaline cement with acidic carbon storage fluids are likely seal and limit risk of leakage.  Scenarios will be framed by current industry definitions leakage measured as sustained casing pressure at the wellhead.   <br/> <br/>This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.  LLNL-ABS-709481<br/>

Leakage potential of cemented wells from carbon storage reservoirs

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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