f Thermal Rock Physics of Shales - Laboratory Measurements under Drained and Undrained Conditions

Cap rocks of oil and gas reservoirs, or reservoirs used for CO2 storage in carbon-capture-and-storage (CCS) projects, are often low-permeability shales. If the temperature of the reservoir or some wells is changed, e.g. by steam injection in thermal EOR or injection of CO2 with a lower temperature than the subsurface rock formations, heat will diffuse from the reservoir into the overlying cap rock or from the wells into the surrounding rock formations and may cause some damage. Especially for CCS projects, a thorough assessment of caprock integrity is a licence-to-operate requirement.