Reservoir/seal characterisation and stratigraphy

Purpose

To assess sedimentological and stratigraphic heterogeneity of reservoirs and seals, and to determine the impact on geological storage of CO2.

Summary

• Evaluating seal capacity of caprocks and intraformational barriers for CO2 containment, plus reviewing the role of wettability and interfacial tension and its effect on seal capacity with respect to capillary pressure, the potential for the diffusion of CO2 through the seal and the effect on reservoir storage volumes.
• Predicting reservoir heterogeneity in large storage sites with minimal data (e.g. by applying sequence stratigraphy and high resolution sedimentology techniques to site-specific characterisation and by producing generic 3D geological models based on analogue datasets) to improve characterisation of CO2 storage sites.
• PhD study applying reservoir characterisation techniques to gain a greater understanding of the heterogeneity of the Betts Creek Beds, Gallilee Basin, and the implications for its potential as a CO2 storage site.
• Analysing the stratigraphic variability in linkages of clastic depositional systems (systems tracts) and ranking them as potential preferred systems for CO2 storage. This will assist with the management of subsurface uncertainty of sites for potential CO2 injection and storage.