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Australian Energy Producers Journal Australian Energy Producers Journal Society
Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

Geomechanical risk assessment of injection test for a carbon storage site appraisal, offshore Northern Territory

Sadegh Asadi https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5616-6770 A * , Abbas Khaksar A , Adrian White A , Guil Coelho B and Raed Rahmanseresht B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Baker Hughes, Perth, WA, Australia.

B Inpex Corporation, Perth, WA, Australia.




Sadegh Asadi received his PhD in Geomechanics from the Curtin University of Australia in 2010. Prior to joining Baker Hughes in 2011, he worked as a researcher at Curtin University. He has over 15 years’ experience with research, project management and consulting in various aspects of reservoir geomechanics. Sadegh is currently a regional Geomechanics Advisor with Baker Hughes, based in Perth, and is actively involved with SPE technical committees for conferences and workshops.



Abbas Khaksar received his PhD in Rock Physics from the University of Adelaide in 1999. He is a global Geomechanics advisor and subject matter expert in sanding evaluation with Baker Hughes, based in Perth. Abbas has 29 years of work experience and served the WA section of SPE as a board member and continuing education officer.



Adrian White received his PhD in Geomechanics from the University of Durham in 2002. Between 2002 and 2004 he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Adelaide. Since joining Baker Hughes in 2005 he has been involved in teaching, training, consulting and project management in Asia Pacific. Adrian has over 20 years’ experience with various geomechanical applications and is currently a Regional Geomechanics SME.



Guilherme Coelho holds a Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours in Petroleum Geoscience from the University of Western Australia. He spent 11 years in the industry at INPEX Australia working in multiple disciplines for the Ichthys Subsurface Team. Currently serving as a Senior Geologist for the Well Planning and Operations Team at INPEX Australia, working across development, exploration, and CCS projects.



Raed Rahmanseresht holds a Master’s degree in Oil and Gas Engineering from the University of Western Australia and a Master’s degree in Electrical Control System Engineering from Polytechnic University Tehran. He has held significant roles at renowned organisations such as Schlumberger, ENI, and Santos. Currently serving as the Senior Well Integrity Engineer at INPEX Australia, He brings a wealth of expertise from Well Completions, P&A and Well Test engineering in ensuring the integrity and reliability of well systems.

* Correspondence to: sadegh.asadi@bakerhughes.com

Australian Energy Producers Journal 64 S308-S313 https://doi.org/10.1071/EP23180
Accepted: 20 March 2024  Published: 16 May 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of Australian Energy Producers.

Abstract

A geomechanical study has been conducted to assess the risk of formation fracturing and sanding during a water injection test. Considering the temperature difference between the storage formation and the injection fluid, the cooling effects could lead to a reduction of almost 15% in fracture initiation pressure (FIP). Notably, the FIP for perforations aligned with the maximum horizontal stress direction are lower than the minimum horizontal stress. While injection pressures surpassing FIP might trigger tensile fracturing in specific perforations, fracture propagation from the wellbore remains unlikely if the injection pressure remains below the field’s minimum horizontal stress. The pressure requirements for current envisaged matrix injection rates fall below the estimated FIPs. Consequently, the risk of formation fracturing during the injection test is deemed low. The propensity of sanding during flowback, considering a range of rock weakening and thermal effects of water injection, is also found to be low.

Keywords: CCS site appraisal, Bonaparte Basin, fracture initiation pressure, injection cooling effects, matrix injection test, reservoir geomechanics, sand production prediction, thermal stress.

Biographies

EP23180_B1.gif

Sadegh Asadi received his PhD in Geomechanics from the Curtin University of Australia in 2010. Prior to joining Baker Hughes in 2011, he worked as a researcher at Curtin University. He has over 15 years’ experience with research, project management and consulting in various aspects of reservoir geomechanics. Sadegh is currently a regional Geomechanics Advisor with Baker Hughes, based in Perth, and is actively involved with SPE technical committees for conferences and workshops.

EP23180_B2.gif

Abbas Khaksar received his PhD in Rock Physics from the University of Adelaide in 1999. He is a global Geomechanics advisor and subject matter expert in sanding evaluation with Baker Hughes, based in Perth. Abbas has 29 years of work experience and served the WA section of SPE as a board member and continuing education officer.

EP23180_B3.gif

Adrian White received his PhD in Geomechanics from the University of Durham in 2002. Between 2002 and 2004 he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Adelaide. Since joining Baker Hughes in 2005 he has been involved in teaching, training, consulting and project management in Asia Pacific. Adrian has over 20 years’ experience with various geomechanical applications and is currently a Regional Geomechanics SME.

EP23180_B4.gif

Guilherme Coelho holds a Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours in Petroleum Geoscience from the University of Western Australia. He spent 11 years in the industry at INPEX Australia working in multiple disciplines for the Ichthys Subsurface Team. Currently serving as a Senior Geologist for the Well Planning and Operations Team at INPEX Australia, working across development, exploration, and CCS projects.

EP23180_B5.gif

Raed Rahmanseresht holds a Master’s degree in Oil and Gas Engineering from the University of Western Australia and a Master’s degree in Electrical Control System Engineering from Polytechnic University Tehran. He has held significant roles at renowned organisations such as Schlumberger, ENI, and Santos. Currently serving as the Senior Well Integrity Engineer at INPEX Australia, He brings a wealth of expertise from Well Completions, P&A and Well Test engineering in ensuring the integrity and reliability of well systems.

References

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Hansen H, Eiken O, Aasum TO (2005) Tracing the path of carbon dioxide from a gas/condensate reservoir, through an amine plant and back into a subsurface aquifer–case study: the Sleipner area, Norwegian North Sea. In ‘SPE Offshore Europe Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference’. (OnePetro)

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| Crossref | Google Scholar |

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| Crossref | Google Scholar |