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At least 883 records · Page 49

Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB): Completed History Match: Subsurface Plume Development, Early Test

In this paper, we compare 4D seismic interpretations of CO 2 plume evolution with fluid flow numerical simulation results for the SECARB Early test at Cranfield, Mississippi. Historic pressure trends, oil and gas production rates and current CO 2 -EOR production data from the field were history matched and tuned model used for predictive simulations. For CO 2 -EOR operations the tuned model results showing CO 2 plume distribution and CO 2 first arrival (break-through) times in production wells were compared to the available field data. Reasonable matches were observed with breakthrough times. However 4D seismic interpretations of saturated region distributions and simulation results mismatch in some significant ways, likely showing limitations in 4D seismic interpretations for Cranfield. The tuned model then used to predict reservoir response and storage capacity in different field development scenarios. We compared hypothetical scenarios where the operator decided to transition into CO 2 injection without oil production (CO 2 -EORT) when oil production is not economical versus a scenario of continuing with CO 2 -EOR. Our results show that CO 2 -EOR can store more CO 2 and operations will last longer whereas if switched to CO 2 -EORT field has to be abandoned earlier because of out-of-area movement of the CO 2 plume. However, the amount of CO2 stored per year during the operational period is larger for CO 2 -EORT.

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Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB): Analyze Data Collected, Revise Surface Monitoring Plan to Maximize Benefit and Continue Data Collection

Objectives of the shallow groundwater study at the Cranfield site since 2008, as a part of the SECARB Phase III early test, were to 1) assess potential impacts of CO 2 leakage on groundwater quality; and 2) test and develop monitoring technologies for CO 2 leakage detection. The study did not intend to seek CO2 leakage signals via monitoring groundwater chemistry in the Cranfield shallow aquifer. Instead, quarterly or semi-annually groundwater sampling from the shallow aquifer was used to characterize spatial and temporal variations in geochemical parameters because CO 2 injection into the deep reservoir started in 2008.

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Business Models for Coal Plant Decommissioning

Aging coal-fired power plants are retiring across the United States. Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory studied coal-fired power plant decommissioning business models to support program development for the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) to engage with communities affected by power plant retirement processes. Evaluating and reducing the impact on coal-dependent communities from phasing out coal production is a crucial piece of nationwide economic development and community-directed engagement in the clean energy future. This report describes the steps in the typical coal-fired power plant decommissioning process, including analysis of the following key factors: Drivers including policy and regulations, competition with other fuels, and corporate responsibility goals; Types of coal plant decommissioning including plant retirement without full decommissioning, repurposing with fuel switch, redeveloping to utilize existing transmission, and decommissioning and repurposing with other commercial activities; and, Costs of coal plant decommissioning, including variations across regulated and deregulated markets and the funding resources to support decommissioning activities. The details described in this report relied heavily on the availability of local news reports and communications regarding plant retirements, as the researchers identified a lack of formal literature surrounding business models for coal plant decommissioning and a need for a more robust source material collection. In addition, a lack of oversight entities responsible for decommissioning processes may have led to this shortfall of information. Future research regarding coal plant decommissioning can include quantitative studies on power plant retirement drivers, procedures, and costs, qualitative assessments on affects decommissioning has on surrounding communities, investors, and other stakeholders, and identifying best practices to engage community stakeholders in the decommissioning process.

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Coal-dependent Communities in Transition: Identifying Best Practices to Ensure Equitable Outcomes

The U.S. coal industry is experiencing a sharp increase in the numbers of retired and/or decommissioned coal-fired power plants across the U.S. In the years between 2010-2019, around 102 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired generating capacity has been announced to be decommissioned, representing more than 546 coal-fired power plant units, and an additional 17 GW is planned to be decommissioned by 2025. This change in the energy production landscape presents an impact on the social, environmental, and economic prospects of coal-dependent communities. This report examined the role of communities in the coal power plant decommissioning process and provided community-identified best practices to ensure an equitable process. The experiences of four coal-dependent communities—Wise County, VA, Muskegon, MI, Anderson County, TN, and Becker, MN—are presented as case studies to understand the impacts of the decommissioning process, and associated best practices, from the communities’ perspective. The report results highlight the need to recognize that the decommissioning decision-making process must be community-based to be equitable. Each community’s input is key to the transition away from coal power because there is no one-size-fits-all development plan. In other words, each community’s trajectory through the decommissioning process—from the retirement decision-making stage to the final site redevelopment phase—is unique because each community has distinct needs and wants from the energy transition. What is best for one community may not be suited for another. Ultimately, the framework for site development and community revitalization post-decommissioning cannot be universal because each community’s profile—from a social, cultural, and economic perspective—is different. Community impacts of power plant decommissioning are not limited to job and revenue losses. Communities are likely to be impacted culturally, socially, environmentally, and have long-term health-based impacts that should be acknowledged and addressed in post-retirement plans. Commonly identified decommissioning best practices include: Early and continued engagement throughout, with a number of mediums for communication and feedback (e.g., in-person sessions, virtual meetings, written comment opportunities); Early planning of post-decommissioning projects to replace lost jobs, revenue, and economic activity; Recognition (and mitigation, if possible) of social impacts on the community due to plant closure; Transparency throughout the process, with trusted information being provided about the decommissioning process and timeline; potential impacts on the workforce, economy, and environment; and the feasibility of alternative site uses; Identification of funding sources, technical experts, and/or strategic partnerships to support decommissioning and the affected communities upfront; and, Acknowledgment of communities as stakeholders who have a role in the conversation and right to determine their futures. Three key areas for assisting coal-dependent communities affected by the energy transition: Technical assistance: assessment of site feasibility for alternative uses or to repower with new technologies; Cross-partnership engagement and collaboration: facilitate knowledge-sharing of “lessons learned” about the decommissioning process between communities and provide guidance for decision-making processes; and, Financial assistance: access to grant and/or loan programs to assist with redevelopment survey, bolster community economic security through job creation, and cover environmental clean-up costs. Technical assistance, cross-partnership engagement, and financial aid can be mobilized to help communities throughout various stages of the decommissioning process, including the retirement decision, the site reclamation phase, and eventual revitalization of the site and surrounding community.

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Fuels Characterization for National Research Council Canada 2-m Pool Fire Test Series

This report provides a detailed analysis of the physical and chemical properties of three liquid hydrocarbon fuels: heptane, Bakken crude, and a diluted bitumen, that were subsequently tested in a series of 2-m pool fire experiments at Sandia National Laboratories for the National Research Council Canada. Properties such as relative density, vapor pressure (VPCR x ), composition, and heat of combustion were evaluated. The heptane analysis, with relative density = 0.69 (at 15°C), confirmed that the material tested was consistent with high-purity (>99%) n-heptane. The Bakken crude, with a relative density = 0.81 (at 15°C), exhibited a vapor pressure by VPCR 0.2 (37.8°C) in the range 120-157 kPa. The dilbit, with a relative density = 0.92 (at 15°C) exhibited a vapor pressure by VPCR 0.2 (37.8°C) in the range 85-98 kPa. Solids remaining in the test pans after the pool fires were also collected and weighed. No detectable solids were left after the heptane burns. In contrast, the crude oils left some brittle, black solid residue. On average, dilbit pool fires left about 40 more residue by mass than Bakken pool fires for equivalent mass of fuel feed.

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SECARB Report on Post-Injection Surface and Near-Surface Monitoring

The Southeast Carbon Sequestration Partnership Phase III Anthropogenic Test at Citronelle Field is one of the United States’ largest demonstrations of CO 2 capture, transportation, injection, storage and monitoring using CO 2 derived from a coal-fired electric generating unit. This report summarizes the post-injection phase groundwater and soil flux monitoring results from September 1, 2014 through July 21, 2016.

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SECARB Report on Post-Injection In-Situ Monitoring

The Southeast Carbon Sequestration Partnership Phase III Anthropogenic Test at Citronelle Field is the United States’ largest prototype of commercial CO 2 capture from a coal-fired power station and transportation, injection, storage and monitoring. This report focuses on the results of the post-injection monitoring period for the Anthropogenic Test. Monitoring methods include both direct and indirect measurements. The Class V Experimental Permit requires extensive monitoring of injected CO 2 at the surface and at deep and shallow depths. The safety, integrity and information objectives of the CO 2 monitoring plan are in place to: (1) create and sustain wellbore integrity; (2) assure safe CO 2 injection operations; (3) verify the location and migration of the injected CO 2 plume; and (4) monitor for any CO 2 leakage. A robust suite of monitoring approaches is utilized for the in-situ monitoring and include, pressure monitoring, various seismic surveys, pulsed neutron logging, reservoir fluid sampling and injection surveys. Data and observations collected using these monitoring methods will be used in the numerical model to inform the post-injection site care monitoring plan. This report describes actions pertaining to in situ monitoring at the Anthropogenic Test Site that were undertaken during the period of September 2014 to May 2016. These monitoring techniques include the acquisition of pressure data, seismic data, pulsed neutron capture logs, reservoir fluid sampling, and tracer gas monitoring. CO 2 injection operations began on August 20, 2012 and terminated on September 1, 2014.

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SECARB Post Injection Assessment Report

The Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) managed the overall Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB) Phase III project and The Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG), at the University of Texas at Austin, managed all activities associated with the Early Test field site near Cranfield, Mississippi (the Early Test or Cranfield Project). The SECARB project at Cranfield was focused downdip of the oil rim and on demonstrating the stacked nature of the storage potential at this location: enhanced oil recovery (EOR) up-dip and saline downdip. Because the injection for EOR continued after the SECARB project ended, no actual post-injection period occurred. However, information collected during the SECARB-monitored injection period, including pressure and CO2 plume position, was utilized in an EOR carbon lifecycle assessment. The carbon lifecycle assessment provided insight on tracking injection fronts and production efficiencies across the field. To complete the post injection assessment, taking into account the continuing EOR period after closeout of SECARB field activities, this report provides data and analysis done under another DOE-funded project. The follow up project focused on the carbon lifecycle of EOR and included an assessment of EOR at as-operated and under possible future scenarios. This work was published by Hossieni et al. (2018) and Hosseininoosheri (2019).

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Southeast Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB) Phase III Anthropogenic Test at Citronelle Field, Mobile Co., AL: Project Assessment Report

The Southeast Carbon Sequestration Partnership Phase III Anthropogenic Test at Citronelle Field is the United States’ largest CO 2 capture and transportation, injection, storage and monitoring project using CO 2 derived from a coal-fired power station. The project represents a U.S. Department of Energy research and development initiative designed to demonstrate deep underground injection and containment of 100,000 tonnes or more of anthropogenic-source CO 2 . This report provides an assessment of the CO 2 injection at the Citronelle Anthropogenic Test site for the period August 23, 2012 to August 31, 2013. The purpose of the project assessment is to re-evaluate the AoR for the injection well. The AoR is defined as the region surrounding the geological sequestration project that may be impacted by the injection activity. The AoR is further defined as the farthest reach of the tangible CO 2 plume and/or the region of ‘significant’ reservoir pressure increase. An updated geologic model of the injection zones and storage reservoir sandstones incorporates geologic data obtained from the injection well and characterization wells drilled at the Phase III Anthropogenic Test site. The numerical modeling of the injection was conducted using the updated geologic model, plus the monitoring results obtained to August 31, 2013. The simulation demonstrates effective containment of CO 2 by the reservoir architecture of the upper Paluxy Formation, consisting of multiple, stacked, highly porous and permeable sandstones, separated by low permeability flow barriers. The CO 2 containment demonstrated in this report requires an AoR with a radius of 440 ft from the injection well. This revision reduces the radius of the AoR from the preinjection determination of 1,700 ft. With the revised AoR, the only well within the AoR is the injection well itself, the D 9-7 #2. The nearest well to the injector is the D 9-8 #2. The surface location is 870 ft away from the D 9-7 #2, placing the D 9-8 #2 outside the revised AoR.

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SECARB Semi-Annual Field Review Reports - Early Test

The Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) managed the overall Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB) Phase III project and The Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG), at the University of Texas at Austin, managed all activities associated with the Early Test field site near Cranfield, Mississippi (the Early Test or Cranfield Project). BEG was assisted in the management of site activities by Sandia Technologies (Sandia). BEG and Sandia implemented reporting procedures that included monthly and quarterly technical progress reports, as well as periodic reporting on key field activities. Subsequent sections of this report catalog the field activities and are organized in a semiannual chronology. The Cranfield Project was located approximately 12 miles east of Natchez, Mississippi. Denbury Onshore, LLC, began operating a commercial CO 2 flood of the field (using the subsurface injection of CO 2 for EOR) in June 2008. Carbon dioxide from the Jackson Dome, a natural source near Jackson, Mississippi, was delivered to the Cranfield oilfield via pipeline. Beginning in October 2008, the SECARB Early Test team characterized the surface and subsurface of the Cranfield site. During the field test CO 2 was injected into the lower Tuscaloosa Formation, a regionally extensive saline formation with the potential to hold millions of tons of CO 2 emissions. By January 2015, the team injected more than 11 million metric tons of CO 2 and monitored a total stored CO 2 mass of 5,326,975 metric tons. SECARB’s study operations occurred in four integrated research program areas within Cranfield field: (1) the High Volume Injection Test area (HiVIT); (2) the Detailed Area of Study (DAS); (3) the Geomechanical area; and (4) the near-surface observatory, also called the “P-site.” Carbon dioxide injection activities were conducted at the HiVIT and the DAS. Figure 1.1-1 provides a depiction of the DAS.

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SECARB 2020 Semi-Annual Field Review Reports - Anthropogenic Test

The Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) managed the overall Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB) Phase III project and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) managed all activities associated with the Anthropogenic Test site. Advanced Resources International, Inc. (ARI) assisted EPRI with the management of site activities. EPRI and ARI followed reporting procedures that included monthly and quarterly technical progress reports, as well as periodic reporting on key field activities. Subsequent sections of this report catalog the field activities and are organized in a semi-annual chronology. The SECARB Anthropogenic Test was the largest demonstration of a fully integrated, pulverized coal-fueled carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in the United States as of 2012 and supports a commercial prototype of CO 2 capture; transportation; subsurface storage; and monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA); and assessment. The demonstration-scale, post-combustion CO 2 capture facility at Alabama Power Company’s Plant Barry diverted flue gas (25MW equivalent) from its Unit #5 coal burning facility and captured the CO 2 using Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) KM-CDRTM advanced amine technology. The captured CO2 was compressed at Plant Barry and transported by pipeline to the injection location southeast of Citronelle, Alabama. The Citronelle Project’s geologic storage and MVA sites were located on the flanks of the Citronelle Dome, approximately three miles southeast of the city of Citronelle. The injection zone, the Paluxy Formation, a saline formation that occurs at approximately 9,400 feet and overlies the oil production horizon of the Citronelle oilfield, presents a favorable injection reservoir in terms of areal extent and petrophysical characteristics. The confining zone, the basal shale of the overlying Washita-Fredericksburg Formation, is persistent throughout the Citronelle area and possesses the appropriate criteria to act as an effective CO 2 seal.

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Geologic Risk Assessment Activities at SECARB Cranfield, MS Site

Risk Assessment (RA) of RCSP Phase 3 sites is a DOE requirement and valuable to DOE’s program because this process encourage careful consideration of elements that could damage an individual project, or if severe ,damage credibility and public commercial acceptance of the sequestration process. Poor outcomes even from small projects can have negative consequences larger than the cost to the individual project. In addition, practice in risk assessment compared to project evolution is needed as part of the confidence-building toward future large scale, long term industrial activities.

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Preliminary Evaluation of Offshore Transport and Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Guidance Document for Offshore Sequestration of CO 2 )

The Preliminary Evaluation of Offshore Transport and Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide provides basic information and recommendations that will guide regulators, policy makers, legal professionals, and carbon-emitting industries in evaluating the potential for carbon dioxide storage in sub-seabed geological structures. The report explores geological and technical topics that should be considered to develop and apply a robust legal and regulatory framework that will facilitate the deployment of a successful offshore carbon dioxide storage project. The Southern States Energy Board and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission convened an Offshore Task Force of experts in relevant fields to collectively prepare this report in support of the Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership Program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory under Cooperative Agreement DE-FC26-05NT42590 and cost-sharing partners.

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SECARB Regional Project Assessment

The SECARB Cranfield Early Test Project was designed to safely demonstrate large-scale, long-term CO 2 injection and storage in a CO 2 -enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operation and associated saline reservoir. Storage during EOR operations has the potential to offset commercial costs, holding a significant promise for future large-scale deployment in the southeastern United States. Denbury Onshore LLC began CO 2 -EOR operations in July 2008 at the Cranfield oilfield located east of Natchez, Mississippi (Figure 1). The location offered an ideal setting to investigate storage monitoring at a commercial CO 2 -EOR operation. The field team, led by the Gulf Coast Carbon Center of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, deployed the largest suite of monitoring, verification, accounting (MVA) technologies to collect data to assess long-term CO 2 utilization and storage. The CO 2 injection interval is within the 3,000-meter-deep fluvial lower Tuscaloosa Formation, a large and regionally extensive saline reservoir, at a broad four-way structural closure that defines the Cranfield oilfield. Tests were conducted in the oil-producing area as well as in the non-oil-producing brine aquifer. The CO 2 used during EOR operation was transported via pipeline from the Jackson Dome, a natural source of CO 2 . The study focused on four integrated research areas: (1) the High-Volume Injection Test area (HiVIT); (2) the Detailed Area of Study (DAS); (3) the Geomechanical area; and (4) the near-surface observatory, also called the “P-site.” CO 2 injection occurred at the HiVIT and the DAS (Figure 2 and Figure 3). The DAS was located down-dip of the oil-water interface of the Cranfield oilfield. The well layout included one injection well and two down-dip observation wells. The team was the first of the regional partnerships to monitor more than 1 million metric tons of CO 2 . At the end of the project, the team monitored more than 11 million metric tons of CO 2 injected and 5 million metric tons of CO 2 stored. The Cranfield Project was the fifth project worldwide, and the first such project in the United States, to reach this CO 2 injection volume while being monitored to demonstrate storage effectiveness.

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Southeast Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB) Phase III Anthropogenic Test at Citronelle Field, Mobile Co., AL Surface and Shallow Subsurface Monitoring

The Southeast Carbon Sequestration Partnership Phase III Anthropogenic Test at Citronelle Field is one of the United States’ largest demonstrations of CO 2 capture, transportation, injection, storage and monitoring using CO 2 derived from a coal-fired electric generating unit. This report summarizes the background and initial injection phase groundwater and soil flux monitoring results. The purpose of the groundwater monitoring program, as prescribed in the Underground Injection Control (UIC) permits is to assure that the project’s activities do not harm Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDWs). In particular, the objective of the program is to monitor for the release of injected CO2 into groundwater aquifers at the project site. Three shallow USDW monitoring wells were installed as part of the groundwater monitoring program. In addition, a water supply well located near the project’s deep characterization well was utilized for monitoring. Seventeen metals, general chemistry and field parameters (e.g. pH, specific conductance, turbidity) were sampled three times prior to injection and quarterly during the injection period to date. Changes in groundwater geochemistry potentially attributable to a release of carbon dioxide into the USDW from the injection activities are decreasing pH and increasing TIC. The change in pH may also accompany the mobilization of certain metals within the groundwater, but the changes are likely site-specific, based on the natural aquifer mineralogy (Wilkin and Diguilio, 2010). At this time, no downward trends for pH and increasing trends for TIC have been statistically determined in the monitor wells. Valid detections exceeding both the UIC discharge limit and the range of background concentrations observed as of the N=11 event include: Exceedance of the UIC permit discharge limit of manganese at D-9-7 MW-2S and D-9-9 MW-1, and exceedance of the UIC permit discharge limit of iron at D-9-9 MW-1. In addition, a statistically significant increase of barium and manganese has been observed at D-9-9 MW-1. However, Additional lines of evidence (namely, expected shifts in TIC or pH, per the research cited above) to interpret the cause (e.g., potential carbon dioxide influence) of the statistically determined exceedances and/or increases are absent at this time. Quarterly groundwater sampling and analysis will continue throughout the project. The UIC permit requires that soil CO 2 flux shall be monitored at the land surface at the injection site and at nearby locations. Twelve locations were chosen for surveys including a mix of near wellbore and offset locations. To date, 24 surveys have taken place with 12 occurring prior to the onset of injection operations in August 2012. Soil CO 2 flux appears to positively covary with soil temperature. A notably high soil CO 2 flux value (21 µmol/m 2 /sec) was observed from the D-9-9 #2 chamber location during sampling event #24 (9/24/2014). As a result of this finding, the frequency of soil CO 2 flux monitoring events will be increased to twice-monthly until this anomaly can be confirmed or determined to be an outlier. Soil CO 2 flux monitoring will continue for the duration of the project.

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SECARB Annual Report on In-Situ Monitoring Program

The Southeast Carbon Sequestration Partnership Phase III Anthropogenic Test at Citronelle Field is the United States’ largest prototype of commercial CO 2 capture from a coal-fired power station and transportation, injection, storage and monitoring. This report details the results of the background and first year of injection monitoring results for the Anthropogenic Test. Monitoring methods include both direct and indirect measurements. The Class V Experimental Permit requires extensive monitoring of injected CO 2 at the surface and at deep and shallow depths. The safety, integrity and information objectives of the CO 2 monitoring plan are in place to: (1) create and sustain wellbore integrity; (2) assure safe CO 2 injection operations; 3) verify the location and migration of the injected CO 2 plume; and (4) monitor for any CO 2 leakage. A robust suite of monitoring approaches are utilized for the in-situ monitoring and include, pressure monitoring, various seismic surveys, pulsed neutron logging, reservoir fluid sampling and injection surveys. Data and observations collected using these monitoring methods will be used in the numerical model to inform the post-injection site care monitoring plan.

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