Abstract

Assessment of the geomechanical properties of organic-rich shale caprocks is critical for a successful CO2 storage into a saline aquifer. In this study, we investigated the geochemical properties of the organic-rich shale caprocks of the Draupne and Heather formations, overlying the potential sandstone reservoirs of Sognefjord, Fensfjord, and Krossfjord formations in the northern North Sea, offshore Norway. The caprock's depositional variations within the sub-basins are established by analyzing the gamma-ray shape and stacking patterns. The effect due to differences in depositional environments, on the caprock compaction behavior is investigated by integrating petrographical analysis of core and cutting samples from 3 wells and by rock physical analysis of wireline log data from 27 exploration wells. Three rock physics templates are used where the wireline log data are interpreted using the published background trends. The effect of kerogen type, maturation level, and deposition environment on caprock properties within the study area are also evaluated. Moreover, the caprock property, such as brittleness, is estimated by using four mineralogy and elastic property-based, empirical relations, which is a quantitative measure of caprock property with respect to changes in stress-state. Finally, the seismic inversion method is assessed for the possibility of extracting caprock properties from surface seismic data. Regardless of compaction processes, the results indicate that the Heather Formation is mechanically stronger than the Draupne Formation. However, both formations appear to be ductile in nature. The depositional environments control the mineralogical composition and fabric of the Draupne and Heather formations, which influence the caprock properties significantly. Results also show that the effect of TOC on caprock properties is insignificant in the study area. The brittleness of the organic-rich shale caprocks in the study area follows a different trend compared to the published trends. We also observed an excellent correlation between the log-derived elastic properties and geomechanical parameters. Still, it is difficult to assess the caprock elastic properties from seismic due to the overlap of data clusters. The evaluation of caprock geomechanical behaviors is challenging as these properties are site-specific and also influenced by other factors such as exhumation, in-situ stress conditions, the existence of natural fractures, and their orientations.

Highlights

  • Assessment of the geomechanical properties of organic-rich shale caprocks is critical for a successful CO2 storage into a saline aquifer

  • We investigated the geochemical properties of the organic-rich shale caprocks of the Draupne and Heather formations, overlying the potential sandstone reservoirs of Sognefjord, Fensfjord, and Krossfjord formations in the northern North Sea, offshore Norway

  • Organic matter types and maturation play vital roles for caprock properties; geochemical reports consisting of TOC data are scouted from the public domain database (NPD, 2020)

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Summary

Lithostratigraphy and structural setting

Group that overlying and interfingering with Krossfjord, Fensfjord, and Sognefjornd formation sandstones of the Brent Group (Fig. 2a). The Horda Platform has tilted towards the east during the Late Kimmeridgian time, which resulted in NNE-SSW zero thickness trend, and thin Heather deposited into the Troll East because of sediment bypassed into the Lomre Terrace area (Stewart et al, 1995). This zero thickness bypass or erosional trend is found in Draupne and Heather formation’s thickness maps (Fig. 5), which reveals that during transgression, the erosional/non-depositional structural high on top of Troll West existed and influences the sedimentation in the study area. All the wells were used in the thickness map generation process, while 27 wells were selected based on Draupne Formation thickness (>10 m) and available logs (i.e., gamma-ray, density, p-sonic, resistivity, neutron porosity, etc.)

Paleo-depositional environment and petrographic analysis
Geochemical data and TOC prediction
Compaction and caprock properties
Brittleness indices
Results
Mineral composition and texture
TOC distribution
Compaction and properties of caprocks
Variation of AI in prestack inverted cube
Brittleness indices trend
Effect of compaction
Implication
Conclusions
Full Text
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