Establishing a Blueprint for Dynamic Reservoir Assessment in CCUS Projects

Abstract As the push toward carbon neutrality accelerates, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) projects are gaining momentum globally. The effectiveness of CCUS operations relies on precise in-situ rock and stress characterization for secure and efficient CO2 storage. Identifying, characterizing, and selecting suitable sites for CO2 geological storage necessitates comprehensive evaluation techniques to determine optimal locations for safe and long-term carbon containment. By integrating petrophysics, geology, geomechanics, & reservoir engineering – including pressure-while-drilling & micro-fracturing, a precise in-situ stress measurements were acquired across two wells in ADNOC Onshore), successfully characterizing caprock integrity & reservoir injectivity, thus laying a blueprint for future CCUS evaluations. The project began with real-time identification of test zones using a geomechanical model built from petrophysical, image log and sonic inputs targeting intervals with high micro-fracturing potential. Formation pressure-while-drilling (FPWD) technology was employed to optimize pressure acquisition while mitigating wellbore stability risks. A successful micro-fracturing operation in the caprock provided valuable data on injectivity and containment. Clean fluid samples were also acquired to assess formation water salinity in a water-based mud environment. Real-time updates to the geomechanical model refined the stress profile, and all stages were synchronized for accurate site evaluation across multiple runs in the Falaha field. These outcomes position the Falaha field - and the deployed workflow - as benchmarks for future sequestration projects in the Middle East and beyond.