Dynamic Modelling of Faults for CO2 Storage - Insights from the CO2CRC Otway Project

In this paper, we present the methodology and results of the various fault modelling that was conducted so that the project could confidently proceed from the safety and integrity perspective. The work is broadly divided into two components. The first component is to assess the likely pressures generated by CO2 injection and to assess whether or not the faults would remain stable under such perturbations. The second component of the work assesses both the across-fault and up-fault hydraulic properties of the fault that is proximal to the injection well. Subsequently, the fault parameters are incorporated into dynamic simulations to determine how far vertically up the fault CO2 is likely to migrate. The incorporation of fault properties into commercially available simulator is not a straight forward workflow, and we will discuss approaches that can be taken in this regard.