UTILIZING LARGE VOLUME ROTARY SIDE WALL CORES FOR GEOMECHANICAL APPLICATIONS IN GEOLOGIC CARBON STORAGE RESERVOIRS (Invited Presentation)

Calibration of 1-D and 3-D Mechanical Earth Models (MEMs) requires knowledge of the geomechanical properties of the reservoir and overburden. Ideally, these properties are determined by conducting laboratory experiments on samples taken from whole core and using the core measurements as inputs and constraints to well log-based workflows. However, extensive acquisition of whole core can be extremely costly and present operational challenges. Large volume rotary side wall cores present a viable alternative when whole core is unavailable. These side wall cores can also be acquired to supplement whole core outside of the primary zone of interest. One strategy for the geomechanical characterization of the subsurface at geologic carbon storage sites is to acquire whole core in the target injection zones, and then acquire large volume rotary sidewall cores from a variety of formations in the overburden. In this presentation we will discuss best practices and lessons learned from conducting geomechanics core analysis on large volume rotary side wall cores acquired for the characterization of geologic carbon storage sites. In particular, we will compare and contrast results from side wall cores and whole core samples and discuss the limitations associated with side wall cores.