Project title: Unlocking the CO2 storage potential of the Cretaceous succession in the North Celtic Sea Basin (offshore Ireland)
Researcher: Dr Pablo Rodriguez-Salgado
The project aims to identify potential hydrocarbon trap and saline aquifer sites for CO2 storage in the Cretaceous succession of the North Celtic Sea Basin and to quantify geological uncertainties associated with their development. The project will capitalise on (i) iCRAG’s existing regional-scale fault and key seismic horizon interpretations, (ii) the legacy hydrocarbon exploration well database, the potential of which for constraining fluid flow and associated leakage has yet to be fully utilised, and (iii) iCRAG’s established expertise on the implications of fault-related hydraulic and mechanical properties for trap/site integrity and leakage. This project represents the first basin-scale study of the geological storage potential in the area and it is expected to become a reference for future storage project development. A variety of research questions will be addressed including the following: What are the characteristic properties of reservoir rocks and seals and their spatial distribution within the Celtic Sea basins? How do the different families of faults affect the seal rock integrity? Which faults are most susceptible to reactivation during CO2 injection? Where are the pre-eminent geological traps/sites for CO2 injection and storage? What volumes of CO2 can potentially be stored in the reservoir rocks within the identified traps/sites? What CO2 injection rates are feasible for the reservoirs and seals concerned? To answer these questions, multiple observations from individual boreholes including pressure tests, oil and gas show distribution, core and fluid sample analyses, and stress indicators will be combined with the existing regional-scale mapping of faults and key horizons to reduce the main uncertainties relating to i) the nature and spatial distributions of reservoir and seal rock formations, ii) the distribution and characteristics of faults and iii) estimates of potential CO2 storage volumes.