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At least 109 records · Page 6

NRAP-Open-IAM Multisegmented Wellbore Reduced-Order Model

Geologic carbon storage is one of the promising strategies to mitigate climate change by reducing the emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. As part of the National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP), a systems-level stochastic analysis tool called the open source integrated assessment model, NRAP-Open-IAM, has been developed to estimate and manage the risk of containment loss at a geological carbon sequestration site. NRAP-Open-IAM contains several wellbore leakage model components that estimate the fluid leak rate that may occur through compromised legacy wells due to the increase in pressure resulting from CO 2 injection activities. Coupled to a reservoir component model, these components estimate the leakage of CO 2 and/or brine from a storage reservoir to overlying aquifer layers and the atmosphere through legacy wells. This report presents the theoretical framework and quality testing of the multisegmented wellbore reduced-order model. The model allows for segmenting of the legacy wells passing through the overlying stratigraphy into several intervals to simulate a site’s specific stratigraphic and hydrogeologic properties. For quality assurance, the analytical model is validated against numerical reservoir flow simulations for single and multiple aquifer(s) models. The results indicate that the model accurately predicts the transport of two-phase fluids (brine and injected CO 2 ) through the well over time. A detailed description of the model helps users to understand the model and provides a basis for future improvements.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

MRCI - Final Technical Report

The objective of the Midwest Regional Carbon Initiative (MRCI) project was to implement a collaborative Regional Initiative to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in the Midwest-Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic areas of the United States. This area encompasses a 20-state region with much of the country’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The MRCI project is co-led by Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle) in Columbus, Ohio, and the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) in Champaign, Illinois, and benefitted from the experience these organizations have acquired over the past 10-plus years leading two Department of Energy (DOE) Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs): the Midwestern Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP), led by Battelle, and the Midwest Geologic Sequestration Consortium (MGSC), led by the ISGS.

CCS↗

The potential for New Mexico basalts to sequester CO2 with a focus on critical element mobility

This study investigates the potential for New Mexico basalts to serve as geologic CO₂ sequestration media through mineral carbonation. Batch-type experiments were conducted using crushed basalts from the Carrizozo and Taos regions at low PCO₂ (0.7–2 bar) and temperatures up to 40°C over 180 days. The experiments evaluated the kinetics of CO₂-water-rock interaction, cation release, and critical element mobility (Cu, Ni, Co, Zn). Solid and fluid samples were analyzed using SEM, EMPA, ICP-OES, and ICP-MS, and geochemical modeling was performed with GEM-Selektor and PHREEQC. Results indicated that up to 80% of the injected CO₂ was mineralized within 100 days, forming secondary carbonates such as siderite and ankerite. Additionally, significant mobilization of critical metals was observed, which has implications for resource recovery and mine-waste valorization in future CO₂ sequestration projects.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Preliminary Study of Potential Utilization of Triassic Rift Basins for Long-Term Carbon Sequestration

Triassic rift basins of the eastern United States present a potential option for long–term carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) sequestration. Exposed and buried basins are located near large point CO 2 sources. Because of their similar origins, comparable fill successions indicate a level of reproducibility that can be conveyed between basins. The thick rock successions of the exposed Culpeper and Gettysburg basins served as proxies for understanding of the basin sequences. Their study allowed recognition of five mappable assemblages of rock types, herein termed lithofacies associations. These lithofacies associations were formed by alluvial fan, braided and meandering streams and marginal and distal lake depositional processes.Stratigraphic architecture of the lithofacies associations within exposed basins suggests a vertical succession that consists of an initial coarse-grained fluvial succession that is progressively replaced upward and basinward by finer grained lacustrine deposits. Along the faulted margins of the basins alluvial fans transitioning to fluvial delta deposits reflect lateral progradation and contemporaneous lateral components of the basin filling.To test the model devised in exposed basins, facies associations were developed for the buried Taylorsville Basin. This basin preserves over 8,000 feet of Triassic rocks that are concealed beneath more than 2,000 feet of Cretaceous and Tertiary Coastal Plain sediments. Composition and stratigraphic architecture of these rocks are similar to those observed in exposed basins. Infilling of the basin was the result of vertical aggradation and lateral progradation of coarse-grained to fine-grained facies. Based upon study of outcrops in the Culpeper and Gettysburg basins, groups of recurring lithologic facies were identified as the fundamental constructs of the basin’s sediment infilling. These groups of facies, termed lithofacies associations, represent an amalgamation of lithologic components from broadly similar depositional systems. These lithologic associations were then extrapolated into the exposed and buried portions of the Taylorsville basins. This effort determined that Triassic rift basins provide several avenues for potential study of geologic sequestration of carbon. The characteristic rift basin succession in the basins presents possible reservoir targets within the marginal fluvial deposits. Furthermore, intrusive and extrusive mafic bodies present a potential source of fracture porosity that could serve as CO 2 reservoirs. Porosity values from thin section analysis of exposed basin samples are higher in alluvial fan and braided fluvial lithofacies. Porosity is highest in samples that show less compaction, due to a lack of ductile lithic fragments and/or higher stratigraphic position. Log data from the Taylorsville Basin indicates that porosity and permeability values in basin marginal fluvial strata are elevated. Near the center of the basin, porosity and permeability values are greatly reduced, primarily owing to the fine-grained character of the lacustrine deposits. Some Triassic basins also contain thick intervals of concordant extrusive and intrusive mafic igneous rocks. These igneous bodies are potential CO 2 reservoirs for several reasons. Firstly, extrusive lava flows provide potential storage in the layers of primary porosity that occur in the vesicules formed at the top of lava flows. Secondly, both lava flows and subsurface igneous sills exhibit extensive fracture porosity produced by the rapid cooling of the flows and intrusions. Thirdly, these igneous rocks are mafic in composition, and studies have shown that iron- and magnesium-rich mafic rocks provide sequestration opportunities through carbonate remineralization. Lastly, extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks are invariably preserved within fine-grained lake deposits. These lacustrine sediments can serve as a fine-grained confining layer that encases the igneous rocks both above and below.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Nano-Engineered Catalyst Supported on Ceramic Hollow Fibers for the Utilization of CO 2 in Dry Reforming to Produce Syngas

The objective of this project was to develop a novel catalytic reactor containing nano-engineered catalysts for the utilization of CO 2 (captured from coal-fired power plants and other CO 2 emitting sources) in dry methane reforming (DMR) (CO 2 + CH 4 → 2 H 2 + 2 CO) to produce synthesis gas (syngas). The technology aims to reduce CO2 emissions by developing beneficial uses for CO 2 from coal-fired power plants. It also offers an alternative to mitigate CO 2 emissions in areas where geologic storage may not be an optimal solution and/or utilization could significantly offset the costs of carbon capture and sequestration. The nano-engineered Ni-based catalyst was prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD). The Ni particles were as small as ~2-4 nm. The nano-engineered catalyst showed CH 4 conversion >95%, H 2 /CO ratio in the range of 0.7-1.0, and CH 4 reforming rate as high as 2,500 L/h/gNi at 850 ºC and pressure of 15-25 psia. The Ni-based ALD catalyst also showed good stability in DMR reaction during a 200-h continuous operation at 850 °C. This is due to strong bonding between the nanoparticles and substrates since the Ni nanoparticles were chemically bonded to the substrate during the ALD process. The high thermal stability maintains the high dispersion of Ni nanoparticles, which can inhibit coke formation because their step edges are small enough to limit carbon nucleation and growth. Technoeconomic analysis (TEA) indicates the levelized cost of syngas (LCOS) is $172/ton with our technology, which is lower than the equivalent (molar) cost of hydrogen produced by steam methane reforming (SMR) or autothermal reforming (ATR). The major operating cost is natural gas feed and fuel, and the levelized cost is highly sensitive to the price of natural gas and relatively insensitive to the CAPEX. Revenues from syngas could have a significant impact on the net cost of electricity (COE), depending on the cost of natural gas and the selling price of syngas, estimated at $36 per MWh if the syngas were sold at $195 per ton. Following DOE NETL’s guidance, a lifecycle analysis (LCA) was conducted to compare with SMR. The functional unit for the basis of comparison was defined as 1kg carbon monoxide in the product stream. The global warming potential (GWP) of our process was found to be 40% lower than the state-of-the-art SMR process. The sensitivity analysis confirms the emissions are most sensitive to the natural gas fuel requirements to deliver heat to the process.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Implementation of Ion Exchange Processes for Carbon Dioxide Mineralization Using Industrial Waste Streams

Sequestration of CO 2 within stable mineral carbonates (e.g., CaCO 3 ) represents an attractive emission reduction strategy because it offers a leakage-free alternative to geological storage of CO 2 in an environmentally benign form. However, the pH of aqueous streams equilibrated with gaseous streams containing CO 2 (pH < 4) are typically lower than that which is required for carbonate precipitation (pH > 8). Traditionally, alkalinity is provided by a stoichiometric reagent (e.g., NaOH) which renders these processes environmentally hazardous and economically unfeasible. This work investigates the use of regenerable ion-exchange materials to induce alkalinity in CO 2 -saturated aqueous solutions such that the pH shift required for mineralization occurs without the need for stoichiometric reagents. Na + -H + exchange isotherms (at [H + ] = 10 −8 –10 −1 M) and rates were measured for 13X and 4A zeolites and TP-207 and TP-260 organic exchange resins in batch equilibrium and fixed-bed exchange experiments, respectively. At solutions equilibrated with CO 2 at 1.0 atm (pH = 3.9), H + exchange capacities for the materials were similar (1.7–2.4 mmol H + /g material) and resulted in pH increases from 3.9 to greater than 8.0. Multi-component mixtures using Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ cations (at 10 −3 –10 −1 M) in CO 2 -saturated water were used to probe competitive ion exchange. The presence of divalent cations in solution inhibited H + exchange, reducing capacities to as low as 0.2 mmol H + /g for both resins and zeolites. Dynamic H + exchange capacities in fixed-bed ion exchange columns were similar to equilibrium values for resins (∼1.5 mmol/g) and zeolites (∼0.8 mmol/g) using inlet solutions that were equilibrated with gaseous streams of CO 2 at 1.0 atm. However, exchange kinetics were limited by intraparticle diffusion as indicated by the increased rate parameters with increasing inlet flow rates (20–160 cm 3 min −1 ). Experimental calcite precipitation from mixing the alkaline CO 3 2− -rich water solution obtained from the ion-exchange column with a simulated liquid waste stream solution achieved thermodynamic maximum yields. The results from these studies indicate that ion exchange processes can be used as an alternative to the addition of stoichiometric bases to induce alkalinity for the precipitation of CaCO 3 , thereby opening a pathway toward sustainable and economic mineralization processes.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Wabash CarbonSAFE (Subtask 3.1 - Application of the NRAP Tools to the Wabash CarbonSAFE Site for Risk Assessment Associated with Geologic Carbon Storage Activities)

This report documents a risk assessment of CO 2 containment loss and induced shear failure due to geologic carbon storage at the Wabash CarbonSAFE site. The operator, Wabash Valley Resources, has proposed adapting the onsite integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) facilities to produce hydrogen and injecting the byproduct CO 2 stream into the subsurface Potosi dolomite formation. The purpose of this study is to assess (1) CO 2 sequestration performance relative to the CarbonSAFE goals of storing 50 Mt over 30 years, (2) the risk of containment loss due to leakage along a wellbore and into an overlying aquifer, and (3) the state of stress and risk of reactivating existing fractures. This study relied upon the initial site characterization work performed by the Illinois State Geologic Survey (ISGS) along with analogue data collected from other carbon sequestration projects in the region.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Fourier-MIONet: Fourier-enhanced multiple-input neural operators for multiphase modeling of geological carbon sequestration

Geologic carbon sequestration (GCS) is a safety-critical technology that aims to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which also places high demands on reliability. Multiphase flow in porous media is essential to understand CO 2 migration and pressure fields in the subsurface associated with GCS. However, numerical simulation for such problems in 4D is computationally challenging and expensive, due to the multiphysics and multiscale nature of the highly nonlinear governing partial differential equations (PDEs). It prevents us from considering multiple subsurface scenarios and conducting real-time optimization. Here, we develop a Fourier-enhanced multiple-input neural operator (Fourier-MIONet) to learn the solution operator of the problem of multiphase flow in porous media. Fourier-MIONet utilizes the recently developed framework of the multiple-input deep neural operators (MIONet) and incorporates the Fourier neural operator (FNO) in the network architecture. Once Fourier-MIONet is trained, it can predict the evolution of saturation and pressure of the multiphase flow under various reservoir conditions, such as permeability and porosity heterogeneity, anisotropy, injection configurations, and multiphase flow properties. Compared to the enhanced FNO (U-FNO), the proposed Fourier-MIONet has 90% fewer unknown parameters, and it can be trained in significantly less time (about 3.5 times faster) with much lower CPU memory (<15%) and GPU memory (<35%) requirements, to achieve similar prediction accuracy. In addition to the lower computational cost, Fourier-MIONet can be trained with only 6 snapshots of time to predict the PDE solutions for 30 years. Furthermore, we observed that Fourier-MIONet can maintain good accuracy when predicting out-of-distribution (OOD) data. The excellent generalizability of Fourier-MIONet is enabled by its adherence to the physical principle that the solution to a PDE is continuous over time. Furthermore, the developed Fourier-MIONet makes it possible to solve the long-time evolution of geological carbon sequestration in a large-scale three-dimensional space accurately and efficiently.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Design, construction, and validation of an in-situ groundwater trace element analyzer with applications in carbon storage

Abstract It is estimated that carbon emissions should reach net-zero by 2050 to meet important climate targets. Carbon capture is likely necessary to reach these targets, requiring a long-term storage solution such as geological carbon sequestration. However, as with any subsurface activity, leakage can occur, potentially impacting groundwater quality near the storage site. Rapid detection is essential to mitigate damage to this resource. Since CO 2 will acidify groundwater, the concentrations of acid soluble minerals and associated cations will increase. Thus, an in-situ, real-time element analysis system based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is under development to monitor these elements. The system splits the traditional LIBS system into a miniature, all-optical sensor head built around a passively Q-switch laser fiber coupled to a control unit. Previous work has validated the LIBS technique for use at high pressure as well as the split system design. In this work, a fieldable prototype sensor is developed and tested in an onsite monitoring well where trace elements concentrations (approx. 0–3 ppm) were tracked over 20 days. These concentrations varied in response to local rainfall, diluting with increased rain, demonstrating the ability of a LIBS-based sensor to track trace elements under real-world conditions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Effects of confinement and pressure on the structure and dynamics of carbon dioxide in silica slit pores

An understanding of carbon dioxide fluid properties within geological mesopores is important in applications ranging from carbon sequestration to shale oil recovery. Here, a molecular dynamics study is presented that aims to shed light on these systems by simulation of CO 2 fluid confined in β-cristobalite silica slit pores with different pore widths and pressure conditions. The weakly associating nature of carbon dioxide leads to little difference in structural and interfacial dynamical properties for different pore sizes and pressures. Rather, the behavior is found to be dominated by the entropic effects, namely, how the CO 2 organizes next to the silica surface. The CO 2 self-diffusion coefficient shows the strongest pore size dependence. It is strongly diminished in small pores and does not reach the bulk fluid value even in 6 nm pores. It also decreases with pressure, yielding an activation volume that increases with pore size. These results provide new insight into the behavior of a compressible fluid in nanoscale confinement.

Godahewa, Sahan M. [Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence, KS ↗

Structural Characterization of Potential Carbon Dioxide Reservoirs and Adjacent Strata within the Llandovery Silurian to Middle Devonian Strata of Ohio

As part of the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP)’s regional characterization project, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey evaluated the structure of nine formations in the Appalachian Basin of Ohio to assess seal integrity and whether carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) migration pathways could pose a potential risk.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

The Influence of Air‐Sea CO 2 Disequilibrium on Carbon Sequestration by the Ocean's Biological Pump

Abstract The ocean's biological carbon pump (BCP) affects the Earth's climate by sequestering CO 2 away from the atmosphere for decades to millennia. One primary control on the amount of carbon sequestered by the biological pump is air‐sea CO 2 disequilibrium, which is controlled by the rate of air‐sea CO 2 exchange and the residence time of CO 2 in surface waters. Here, we use a data‐assimilated model of the soft tissue BCP to quantify carbon sequestration inventories and time scales from remineralization in the water column to equilibration with the atmosphere. We find that air‐sea CO 2 disequilibrium enhances the global biogenic carbon inventory by ∼35% and its sequestration time by ∼70 years compared to identical calculations made assuming instantaneous air‐sea CO 2 exchange. Locally, the greatest enhancement occurs in the subpolar Southern Ocean, where air‐sea disequilibrium increases sequestration times by up to 600 years and the biogenic dissolved inorganic carbon inventory by >100% in the upper ocean. Contrastingly, in deep‐water formation regions of the North Atlantic and Antarctic margins, where biological production creates undersaturated surface waters which are subducted before fully equilibrating with the atmosphere, air‐sea CO 2 disequilibrium decreases the depth‐integrated sequestration inventory by up to ∼150%. The global enhancement of carbon sequestration by air‐sea disequilibrium is particularly important for carbon respired in deep waters that upwell in the Southern Ocean. These results highlight the importance of accounting for air‐sea CO 2 disequilibrium when evaluating carbon sequestration by the biological pump and for assessing the efficacy of ocean‐based CO 2 removal methods.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗

A review of risk and uncertainty assessment for geologic carbon storage

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in geological formations play a key role in mitigating anthropogenic CO 2 emissions and achieving the aggressive goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Risk and uncertainty assessment is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of geologic carbon storage (GCS) by evaluating CO 2 migration in subsurface, forecasting potential leakage and induced seismicity risks, and optimizing operational and monitoring plans. In this review, the use and progress of risk assessment for GCS over the last few decades are examined. Here, we use the Southwest Regional Partnership on Carbon Sequestration (SWP), which is one of the seven regional partnerships supported by the United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE), as an example of large-scale CCUS projects in North America. Additionally, future trends and requirements for risk assessment in GCS are discussed. The information provided in this review can help readers understand the significance of risk and uncertainty assessment and apply it effectively in large-scale GCS projects.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Quantitative Risk Assessment (Topical Report)

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in geological formations plays a key role in mitigating anthropogenic CO 2 emissions and achieving the aggressive goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Quantitative risk assessment is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of geologic carbon storage (GCS) by evaluating CO 2 migration in subsurface, forecasting potential leakage and induced seismicity risks, and optimizing operational and monitoring plans. We present the use, progress, and research trends of risk assessment from the Southwest Regional Partnership on Carbon Sequestration (SWP) as an example of large-scale CCUS projects in North America. The information provided in this report can help readers understand the significance of risk and uncertainty assessment and apply them effectively in large-scale CCUS projects.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Machine learning-based inversion for acoustic impedance with large synthetic training data: Workflow and data characterization

Where wells are sparse or training data are difficult to label with high-quality wireline-derived impedance logs, machine learning (ML)-based inversion of acoustic impedance typically depends on small training data sets, leading to biased prediction. We have advanced a novel workflow that applies large synthetic seismic training data to reduce facies-related bias. Using a geologically realistic model as the truth model, we randomly select sparse seed wells to perform sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS) for impedance models of the same geometry and simulate facies variability. We implement random forest regression on 30 features extracted from the synthetic volume. We observe that more seed wells tend to reduce facies-induced bias by sampling more types of facies, resulting in a better prediction. We then focus on the responses of SGS models to facies changes, the number of seed wells necessary for a useful synthetic model, and how much a synthetic model can help ML-based inversion. Here, we observe that the SGS synthetic training model outperforms well-direct training in general. For modeled clastic shore-zone systems in Miocene Gulf of Mexico, two or more seed wells are necessary for a significant reduction of root-mean-square error and outliners, and improvement of facies imaging. In a field-data test, we apply a similar workflow to quantitatively predict acoustic impedance, which is then converted to a sand-volume map at a high-frequency sequence (10–100 m), revealing detailed facies and sandstone patterns. Such results are valuable in many geologic and engineering applications, such as hydrocarbon and CO 2 reservoir prospecting, reserve estimation, simulation, etc.

3D seismic↗

Storage Field Development Plan: One Earth Energy

This Storage Field Development plan presents the Storage Complex characterization results, construction, monitoring, and operational plans, and costs associated with the proposed One Earth Sequestration Carbon Capture and Storage (OES-CCS) site in McLean County, Illinois, near Gibson City. The proposed storage complex, known as the Mt. Simon Storage Complex, comprises the Cambrian Mt. Simon Sandstone reservoir and the primary seal, the Cambrian Eau Claire Formation. The lowermost Underground Source of Drinking Water (USDW) identified for the site is the Ordovician St. Peter Sandstone. Geologic characterization of the Mt. Simon Storage Complex at the OES-CCS site was performed by the Illinois Storage Corridor CarbonSAFE Phase III project, which also prepared and submitted three UIC Class VI applications to construct three injection wells; the permit applications were submitted and are in the federal EPA review process. A characterization well, OEE #1, was drilled to collect site-specific data. These data were analyzed and used to develop the UIC Class VI applications. The OEE #1 well will be converted to an in-zone monitoring (IZM) well for the injection phase. The proposed buildout for the OES-CCS site includes (1) three injection wells (OES #1, OES #2, and OES #3), (2) two IZM wells, (3) two above confining zone (ACZ) monitoring wells, one of which will be used to monitor the lowermost USDW, (4) capture and compression facilities, and (5) transportation facilities, i.e., pipelines. A pre-operational testing program was proposed in the Class VI permit application and will be employed at the site pending approval. Additional pre-injection (baseline), syn-injection, and post-injection monitoring and site care procedures will be followed by OES to ensure that injection activities are protective of human health and the environment. Injection is scheduled to begin in 2025, distributed across the three injection wells in accordance with the permit operating conditions. One Earth Sequestration intends to inject up to 90 million tonnes of CO 2 over a period of approximately 20 years. Injection will begin at approximately 0.5 million tonnes of CO 2 annually and ramp up to a maximum of 4.5 million tonnes annually. Daily injection rates are expected to range from 1,400 to 1,500 tonnes per day initially and reach a maximum of approximately 4,225 tonnes per day, depending on site geology and injectivity at each injection well location, and CO 2 availability. The costs associated with the OES-CCS project include pre-operational costs (e. g. additional seismic data acquisition and well drilling), capture and transportation facility and equipment costs, predicted field operating expenditures (OpEx), and decommissioning and post-injection site care (PISC) costs. The risks associated with project activities, such as site construction, injection operations, and verification of secure storage were evaluated, and mitigation strategies proposed to alleviate those risks.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗