Impact of Integrated Biogeomechanics on CO₂ Storage in Depleted Hydrocarbon Reservoirs: Insights from Wolfcamp Shale

The depleted shale reservoirs have shown promising potentials for permanent geological CO₂ storage (GCS) either as a caprock or as reservoir storage units. In this study, we experimentally investigated the impact of localized biogeomechanical process on geological CO₂ storage in a depleted heterogeneous reservoir, using subsurface samples from Wolfcamp shale formation and a microbial strain. We first obtained the mechanical properties of shale samples using the scratch test method, in addition to the measurement of their initial porosity and permeability. We treated the shale core samples with a bacteria strain at distinct conditions. Further, we obtain the post-treatment mechanical properties and the new porosity and permeability measurements of the microbiallytreated shale samples. Finally, we analyzed the effect of the modified properties on long-term CO₂ storage in the Wolfcamp shale formation.