Thermal enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is an effective method for extending production from mature fractured carbonate reservoirs. This study examines the thermo-mechanical behavior of the Eocene Sakesar Formation in the Balkassar Oil Field, Potwar Basin, Pakistan, under cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) conditions representative of near-wellbore operations. An integrated experimental and numerical approach was employed, including uniaxial compressive and Brazilian tensile strength tests, joint shear tests, permeability measurements, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) modeling. Limestone cores were subjected to ten heating–cooling cycles between 25 °C and 180 °C, with properties assessed after each cycle. Results show progressive, non-linear mechanical degradation, with uniaxial compressive strength decreasing from 47.5 MPa to 31.5 MPa and Young's modulus from 22.4 GPa to 16.7 GPa. In contrast, permeability increased irreversibly from 28 mD to 56 mD. Micro-CT analysis indicates that permeability enhancement is governed mainly by fracture network connectivity and coalescence rather than aperture enlargement alone, despite mean fracture aperture increasing from 0.15 mm to 0.39 mm. THM simulations reveal significant near-wellbore thermal stress redistribution and identify a high slip-tendency zone within ∼10 m of the wellbore during heating, suggesting potential shear reactivation of pre-existing fractures. These findings highlight the dual impact of cyclic thermal stimulation: improved injectivity through fracture connectivity evolution and increased geomechanical risk related to fracture reactivation and wellbore stability in compressional settings. This integrated framework supports safer and more efficient thermal EOR design for the Balkassar Oil Field and similar fractured carbonate reservoirs.

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