| Refining Principal Stress Measurements in Reservoir Underburden in Regions of Induced Seismicity Through Seismological Tools, Laboratory Experiements and Theory |  |  |
Project Information
| Prime Performer: | Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) | Location: | Palo Alto, CA | |
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| Project Duration: | 10/01/2018 - 03/31/2023 | Agreement Number: | FE0031687 | |
| Technology Area: | Advanced Storage | Total Award Value: | $1,080,005 | |
| Key Technology: | Subsurface Stress | DOE Share: | $580,006 | |
| Performer Share: | $499,999 | |||
Project Description
This project is developing methodologies to measure the in-situ principal stress in the deep subsurface through use of multiple independent, but complementary seismic methods, laboratory verification, and development of theoretical frameworks. The project is leveraging existing regional and local datasets to develop, test, and refine a set of diagnostic tools for determining the in-situ stress state with reduced uncertainty at and below reservoir depths (1.5-6 kilometers). The goal is to develop a set of novel tools that are scale-independent, such that their utility is equivalent on regional, field scale, and near borehole monitoring of principal stresses in reservoir underburden for carbon storage projects. The research involves applying the virtual seismometer method (VSM) and shear wave splitting (SWS) methods to robust seismicity catalogs created with matched filter techniques near sites of active fluid disposal—a proxy for carbon storage sites where complete datasets are more limited. This is a non-invasive method to determine the orientation and magnitude of the in-situ stress principal stress field over large spatial scales and at depths >1500 meters. Stress estimation methods using seismic processing tools will be validated using controlled laboratory experiments conducted on rock samples from the region of interest. The project is developing theoretical models to provide a framework for understanding the links between local injection information (e.g. local pore-fluid pressure distribution and associated poroelastic stresses), observed changes in spatial and/or temporal principal stress orientations, the absolute magnitude of the stress field, and subsequently observed geophysical signals.
Project Benefits
Currently, there are no high-resolution methods that provide a spatial estimate of the stress magnitude at earthquake nucleation depths and the only way to get accurate stress measurements is from a borehole. These measurements are point specific and the drilling of the borehole changes the stress regime around it. This project is developing non-borehole-based methods from the complementary seismic methods mentioned above in order to mitigate the storage integrity and induced seismicity risks and to ensure the successful storage of carbon dioxide in the subsurface.
Contact Information
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