Fault Reactivation and Ground Surface Uplift Assessment at a Prospective German CO2 Storage Site

The present study assesses potential geomechanical impacts of pore pressure increase induced by CO2 injection at a prospective CO2 storage site located in the Middle Bunter sequence in Eastern Germany. A 3D supraregional-scale structural geological model was implemented in one-way coupled hydro-mechanical simulations to assess caprock and fault integrity. Simulation results show a maximum ground uplift of 0.021 m at the end of CO2 injection, while shear failure observed at the simulated time steps does not achieve a significant density in the entire model. Consequently, reservoir, caprock and fault integrity are not compromised at any time of CO2 injection operation.