Ms Richa Shukla

Contact Information:

Qualifications:

Research:

One of the risks associated with the Geological Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide is the potential failure of the caprock which could harm the efficiency of the project as well as the hinder the environment of the surrounding area. The mechanical, physical and chemical interaction of CO₂ (usually as a Supercritical fluid) hampers the strength and integrity of the Caprock and could increase the likelihood of subsequent leakage of CO₂ back into the atmosphere through fractures and reopening of pre-existing faults. My study analyses the effects of injection and long term storage of CO₂ in deep underground rock formations in presence of water/brine. The processes of fracture initiation, fracture propagation and failure of caprock are studied and the impacts of pre-existing fractures and faults in the rockmass should also be examined. Triaxial tests at raised temperature and high pressure (analogous to those prevailing in the sequestration reservoirs) will be conducted on caprock samples by saturating them with supercritical/gaseous CO₂ and numerical and computer modelling (using COMSOL Multiphysics) is done on the basis of literature and experimental data. We also intend to use acoustic emission measurement data in order to access the formation and penetration of cracks (brittle failure) in the cap rock samples.

The project aims to establish better techniques and in-depth understanding of loss of integrity of the caprock through different failure mechanisms and migration of CO₂ through the caprock.

• To analyse the Geomechanical behaviour of the CapRock subjected to changes in stress field due to the injection and storage of supercritical CO₂,
• To Study the mechanical and chemical effects of long term of supercritical CO₂ on cap rock integrity.
• To study the possible activation of faults and fractures due to the injection of high fluid pressures.
• To examine Coupled Hydro-mechanical behaviour of fractured and porous rocks
• To Analysis of fracture formation in brittle failure of the rock using Acoustic Emission measurement techniques.

• Dr. P. G. Ranjith (Monash University, Clayton)
• Dr. A. Haque (Monash University, Clayton)
• Dr. S. K. Choi (CSIRO, Clayton)
• Dr. Sandrine Vidalgilbert (CO2CRC, Adelaide)

Short Resume:

• 1999 - 2002 Diploma (Civil Engineering), S.V. Polytechnic, Indore, India
• 2002 - 2005 BEng (Civil Engineering) MITS Gwalior, India
• 2004 (June-August) Research Fellowship with Prof. D. N. Singh, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India
• 2005-2006 Research Fellow, Geotechnical Engineering Division, Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi, India
• 2006-2007 Geotechnical Engineer in a Private Firm