# Fluid Flow Simulations of a Large-Scale Borehole Leakage Experiment

Klose, Tim 1; Chaparro, M. Carme 2; Schilling, Frank 1; Butscher, Christoph; Klumbach, Steffen 1; Blum, Philipp 1
1 Institut für Angewandte Geowissenschaften (AGW), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
2 Institut für Nukleare Entsorgung (INE), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)

##### Abstract:
Borehole leakage is a common and complex issue. Understanding the fluid flow characteristics of a cemented area inside a borehole is crucial to monitor and quantify the wellbore integrity as well as to find solutions to minimise existing leakages. In order to improve our understanding of the flow behaviour of cemented boreholes, we investigated experimental data of a large-scale borehole leakage tests by means of numerical modelling using three different conceptual models. The experiment was performed with an autoclave system consisting of two vessels bridged by a cement-filled casing. After a partial bleed-off at the well-head, a sustained casing pressure was observed due to fluid flow through the cement–steel composite. The aim of our simulations is to investigate and quantify the permeability of the cement–steel composite. From our model results, we conclude that the flow occurred along a preferential flow path at the cement–steel interface. Thus, the inner part of the cement core was impermeable during the duration of the experiment. The preferential flow path can be described as a highly permeable and highly porous area with an aperture of about 5μm and a permeability of 3⋅10$^{−12}$m$^{2}$ (3 Darcy). ... mehr

 Zugehörige Institution(en) am KIT Institut für Angewandte Geowissenschaften (AGW)Institut für Nukleare Entsorgung (INE)Universität Karlsruhe (TH) – Interfakultative Einrichtungen (Interfakultative Einrichtungen)KIT-Zentrum Klima und Umwelt (ZKU) Publikationstyp Zeitschriftenaufsatz Publikationsjahr 2021 Sprache Englisch Identifikator ISSN: 0169-3913, 1573-1634 KITopen-ID: 1000126652 Erschienen in Transport in porous media Verlag Springer Band 136 Seiten 125–145 Vorab online veröffentlicht am 20.11.2020 Schlagwörter Borehole leakage, Sustained casing pressure, Permeability test, Cement, Modelling Nachgewiesen in Web of ScienceDimensionsScopus
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