Large Rock Mass Experimentation @ Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory – CO2 Containment Assurance Experiments

Abstract

The Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory (MT-URL) and Consortia affords member organizations the opportunity to bridge the gap between bench and large field scale experiments. At this underground test site, CCP4 (CO2 Capture Project Phase 4) partners, a four company collaboration that includes BP, Chevron, Petrobras and Suncor, along with the Swiss Topographic Survey (swisstopo) who operates the laboratory, are conducting 1) an experiment that focuses on the mitigation of pressure leakages associated with CO2 containment in near wellbore injection well systems using novel sealants and, if resources are available, 2) a fractured caprock breach sealing experiment.The mock well system experiment for CO2 breach mitigation is of immediate interest. This experiment, designated CS-A, is operational with equipment installation accomplished late 2nd quarter 2015 and experimental protocols that commenced late December 2015 scheduled to run through the summer of 2017. Sealant testing is scheduled to begin in late 2016. The objective is to assess the ability to characterize and seal induced leaks at micro annular interfaces (casing, cement and country rock) using novel sealants with determination of the long term sealing integrity. The 2nd experiment is in an earlier stage of development, having been scoped in 2014 for costing and resource alignment. This second project requires additional participants to spread costs before the final design is set.