Evaluation of Stress and Geomechanical Characteristics of Rocks at Penn West's Pembina CO2-Enhanced Oil Recovery Pilot Operation

摘要

The capture and geological storage of CO2 is emerging as a viable option to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,and CO2-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is a potential process for long-term CO2 storage.The safety of CO2 storage is critically important because decision and policy makers,regulatory agencies and the public must be assured that these operations are safe and that CO2 has been removed permanently from the atmosphere.Several pilot CO2-EOR operations in Alberta have been initiated with support from both the provincial and federal governments,among them Penn West Energy Trust's pilot in the Pembina field,located from 5- 12-048-09W5 to 10-11-048-09W5,where a multidisciplinary research program is being currently conducted.Among the subjects of investigation are the stress and geomechanical properties of the rocks,which are decisive elements in evaluating the safety of CO2 injection and storage.This paper includes an assessment of the stress regime of the Pembina oil field and a review of the relevant rock properties.