Shale barrier performance in petroleum systems: implications for CO 2 storage and nuclear waste disposal

Abstract

Shale is often required to act as a natural barrier to fluid flow around nuclear waste repositories and above CO 2 storage sites. The small pore size of the shale matrix makes it an effective barrier to fluid flow. However, leakage could occur along faults or fractures. Experiments provide insight into fault/fracture-related leakage on short timescales (i.e. 1–10 years) compared to that needed for safe disposal (up to 1 Ma). Data collected by the petroleum industry provides strong evidence on how faults and fractures in shale impact fluid flow on such timescales. Faulted shales act as seals to petroleum reservoirs and abnormal pressures on geological timescales (>10 Ma). This observation suggests that faults in shale can either form without acting as flow conduits or act as temporary conduits but then reseal. Index properties such as clay content and elastic moduli are useful for identifying shales in which faults/fractures are likely to self-seal. However, fault and fracture-related fluid flow can occur through weak shales if high overpressures are maintained. Nuclear waste repositories can be sited away from where overpressures could develop. Leakage from CO 2 storage sites is more risky because the CO 2 provides drive to maintain high pressures, which could suppress self-sealing. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Fault and top seals 2022 collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/fault-and-top-seals-2022