Sang Hoon Kim

BE (Hons)
Postgraduate Research Student


School of Civil Engineering, Room 360
Email:

Research project - Geomechanical Aspects of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Supervisor: A/Prof David Airey

The sealing efficiency of caprocks is a significant controlling factor for storing CO2 in storage reservoirs and must be investigated before commencing a CCS project.

The studies on geomechanical responses of the aquitard will enhance understandings of complex nature of the storage reservoir system.

In many CCS projects, a layer of shale is used for sealing any CO2 introduced in the reservoir. However, the brittleness of the shale, the most abundant aquitard, is of great concern. The aquitard may not be successful in securing CO2 in storage reservoir due to induction of fractures in the layer of shale. Another property that requires detailed investigation is the permeability of the shale. Any changes in porosity and consequent alterations in permeability properties of the shale may allow diffusion of CO2 through the aquitard in a long-term period.

My studies focus on geomechanical aspects of the shale layer and evaluate its validity and efficiency. This research will enhance understandings in alterations of mechanical properties of the aquitard and assist evaluating the feasibility of future proposed CCS projects.