Projects & Programs
Subsurface Stress State and Evolution: Geomechanical Simulation (STOMP/ABAQUS®)
Understanding the state of stress in the subsurface requires advanced geomechanical simulation capability. The STOMP/ABAQUS®analytical capability can be applied to seismic risk and induced seismicity, fracture prediction, subsurface storage of CO2, and development of geothermal and unconventional oil and gas resources.
Impacts
The potential for thermal fracturing and vertical uplift of ground surface due to injection of low temperature supercritical CO2 was evaluated for a geologic CO2 sequestration site (FutureGen2). The potential for fault weakening and increased risk of induced seismicity due to change in geomechanical properties caused by mineralogical changes during reactive transport of CO2 is currently being evaluated (NRAP).
Distinctive Capabilities
Reactive transport modeling capability of STOMP coupled with rock constitutive models implemented in industry standard ABAQUS® finite element packages. The modeling capability can handle multiple phases, (including aqueous, gas, solid), multiple components (including water, air, oil, salt, CO2, CH4, dilute solutes, and reactive species), both isothermal and non-isothermal problems, and is scalable and high performance computing enabled.
