Yield envelope assessment as a preliminary screening tool to determine carbon capture and storage viability in depleted southern north-sea hydrocarbon reservoirs

This paper describes a laboratory study of the hydro-mechanical properties of samples from the Sherwood Sandstone Group (SSG), an onshore analogue of the finer grained, lower porosity portions that make up the Bunter Sandstone Formation (BSF). The study provides a yield envelope for this sandstone, and demonstrates that it is a competent sandstone at relevant reservoir depths. A theoretical yield envelope has been calculated based on the anticipated in situ stress induced by depletion and reinjection, showing that only the high porosity (35%), large grain diameter (290 µm) end-member of the BSF is likely to result in deformation of the reservoir rock. Stress analysis of four fields within the Southern North Sea suggest that depletion of 10 MPa will not result in permanent deformation of the reservoirs assuming similar porosity and grainsize characteristics to the SSG tested. Furthermore, re-inflation is unlikely to result in permanent deformation should the injection pressure not exceed the initial pre-production reservoir pore pressure.