| dc.description.abstract | Abstract De-risking of CO2-storage sites is crucial for assessing its viability. The Alpha Prospect is reliant on faults in the carbonate-rich Cromer Knoll Formation acting as a seal to prevent CO2 from leaking. However, prediction of carbonate fault permeability has not been researched enough for us to safely assume that these faults act as barriers. Hence, the well exposed carbonate faults on the island of Malta and Gozo were utilised to strengthen our understanding of permeability prediction in carbonate sequences. To increase our understanding, a geocellular model of the Maltese Islands was created and populated using data for previously conducted field studies. Here, 23 faults with various attributes were modelled. In this thesis the main focus was on the two faults Il-Maghlaq Fault and the Victoria Line Fault. in addition, three other faults were compared to these main faults. Afterward, results from this modelling were implemented into a hydrogeological model, which was compared with observed well data. The result implied that it is possible to predict which faults is sealing and which are not by examining the shale smear factor. Our preliminary assessment suggests that a SSF ≤ 5 is likely to produce a continuous shale smear for faults with large throw. The hydrogeological model showed the importance of having a continuous fault rock along the entire fault zone. The model with a thinned fault zone showed clear signs of leakage, while the model with the continuous fault rock show results similar to what is observed on the islands. | eng |