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Title: Geomechanical risks in coal bed carbon dioxide sequestration

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/815530· OSTI ID:815530

The purpose of this report is to summarize and evaluate geomechanical factors which should be taken into account in assessing the risk of leakage of CO{sub 2} from coal bed sequestration projects. The various steps in developing such a project will generate stresses and displacements in the coal seam and the adjacent overburden. The question is whether these stresses and displacements will generate new leakage pathways by failure of the rock or slip on pre-existing discontinuities such as fractures and faults. In order to evaluate the geomechanical issues in CO{sub 2} sequestration in coal beds, it is necessary to review each step in the process of development of such a project and evaluate its geomechanical impact. A coal bed methane production/CO{sub 2} sequestration project will be developed in four steps: (1) Formation dewatering and methane production; (2) CO{sub 2} injection with accompanying methane production; (3) Possible CO{sub 2} injection for sequestration only; and The approach taken in this study was to review each step: Identify the geomechanical processes associated with it, and assess the risks that leakage would result from these processes.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Bechtel BWXT Idaho LLC (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
815530
Report Number(s):
LBNL-53250; R&D Project: 80XM01; TRN: US200319%%325
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1 Jul 2003
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English