Developing CO2-EOR and Associated Storage within the Residual Oil Zone Fairways of the Powder River Basin, Wyoming - Presentation
Final Technical Presentation
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Final Technical Presentation
The Cypress Sandstone is the youngest and shallowest unit in the Illinois Basin that was featured in the United States Carbon Utilization and Storage Atlas IV as a target for saline carbon storage with an estimated 0.2 to 2.3 GT of storage potential. Additional research on a residual oil zone (ROZ) developed within the Cypress Sandstone has delineated 27 prospects with approximately 290.8 million m3 (1.8 billion barrels) of oil in place. 21 to 31 million m 3 (144 to 196 million barrels) of oil is estimated to be recoverable using carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO 2 -EOR). Storage of CO 2 associated with EOR in these ROZ prospects alone, not accounting for associated main pay zones (MPZs), underlying brine formation, or intervals adjacent to or between prospects, is estimated to be up to 10.4 billion tonnes. The Cypress Sandstone is thus well understood to be a CO 2 injection target, both for EOR and associated storage. However, the seal system overlying the Cypress Sandstone is poorly understood. Unlike deeper formations such as the Mt. Simon Sandstone or the St. Peter Sandstone which are either in use as a CO 2 sink or being characterized for prospective storage, respectively, the Cypress is not overlain by hundreds of feet of impermeable shale. Rather, the Cypress is overlain by a lithologically variable interval that is composed generally of shales and limestones with some sandstone in the part of the Basin where the Cypress is deep enough to facilitate CO 2 storage. Also, due to its status as one of the shallowest and most prolific oil reservoirs in the Basin, the seal system overlying the Cypress Sandstone has a relatively high number of legacy well penetrations. The purpose of this report is to characterize the Cypress Sandstone seal system using well logs and available core. Gross thickness, lithology (facies), and mineralogy of seals is described and mapped across the Basin. The column height of CO 2 that can be held is calculated using capillary pressure data from a representative core.
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) generation is an attractive option for low-emission power generation; however, the high costs of thermal storage associated with concentrating solar create a large barrier for their use and adaptation into modern life. Lowering their operation costs, while maintaining high thermal storage and transfer performance is essential. Solid particle-based heat exchange systems can reduce CSP cost but are often less efficient. Efforts to increase their performance have led to use of binary size particle mixes. Presented is an optical-based thermal analysis technique used to measure near-wall thermal conductivity of particle beds essential in determining their heat exchanger efficiency. Modulated Photothermal Radiometry is used to make dynamic temperature measurements, allowing for the extraction of the most relevant thermal properties like thermal conductivity, specific heat, and effusivity. The system uses a modulated laser source causing a damped periodic heat flux, resulting in a frequency and thermal property dependent surface temperature, of which is measured using radiometry. Lock-In techniques are used to extrapolate the amplitude of the signal. Plotting the amplitude against the root angular frequency allows for effusivity measurement by ratio to a known sample. Using specific heat measurements from literature and density measurements, the thermal conductivity of the particle mixes can be calculated. The simplicity of MPTR to probe through the depth of the bed is ideal for use in CSP for dynamic thermal performance monitoring.
Sheared photospheric velocity fields inferred from spot motions for April 5-7, 1980, are compared with both transverse magnetic field orientation changes and with the region's flare history. Rapid spot motions and high inferred velocity shear coincide with increased field alignment along the longitudinal neutral line and with increased flare activity, while a later decrease in velocity shear precedes a more relaxed magnetic configuration and decrease in flare activity. It is estimated that magnetic reconfiguration produced by the relative velocities of the spots could cause storage of about 10 to the 32nd erg/day, while flares occurring during this time expended no more than about 10 to the 31st erg/day.
The Williston Basin Associated CO 2 Storage Field Laboratory (WBCFL), led by the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) in partnership with Denbury (now ExxonMobil), was established to advance understanding of CO 2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and associated geologic CO 2 storage in the Williston Basin. The specific objective of the WBCFL was to conduct field and laboratory activities to inform decisionmakers regarding the 1) efficacy of associated storage in stacked geologic reservoirs during EOR operations; 2) CO 2 injectivity, oil production, and storage in residual oil zones (ROZs); 3) use of a novel CO 2 storage monitoring, verification, and accounting (MVA) technology (active seismoelectric [ASE] monitoring), and 4) life cycle and techno-economic factors for EOR development scenarios targeting ROZs. The project location was the Pennel Field in southeast Montana, which is part of the Cedar Creek Anticline (CCA) geologic structure within the Williston Basin.
Residual oil zones (ROZs) are economically viable targets for carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO 2 -EOR); thick, carbonate ROZs in the San Andres Formation in the Wasson Field of the Permian Basin are an example. Incremental oil produced from CO 2 -EOR can be carbon negative via associated storage of injected CO 2 . Given the regional extent of ROZ fairways and generally higher net utilization of CO 2 (compared to conventional CO 2 -EOR), ROZs provide the opportunity for significant carbon neutral to carbon negative oil production with associated CO 2 storage, and therefore should be a priority target for exploration. However, ROZs have not been widely recognized or identified due to poor or no conventional oil production. Hence, in places like the Illinois Basin (ILB), exploratory analyses are required to recognize the existence of an ROZ. As part of this study, four formations were selected for detailed regional characterization and analysis: Carper Sandstone (part of the Borden Siltstone), Tar Springs Sandstone, Cypress Sandstone, and Middle Devonian (Geneva Dolomite and associated Dutch Creek Sandstone). The four formations underwent regional geological characterization to develop a regional geologic framework for the ROZs and their overlying seals. Findings of this study are supported by data from two field laboratory sites, one with stacked greenfield ROZs and the other with a stacked complex that includes a brownfield ROZ and depleted conventional reservoirs. The field laboratory sites were used to collect data and conduct tests to validate ROZ detection methodologies and identify economic field-deployable strategies to co-optimize CO 2 -EOR and associated storage in stacked ROZs. Findings from these field sites were extrapolated to characterize the basin-wide stacked ROZ fairway resource.
A summarization and categorization of the pertinent literature associated with fluid management systems technology having potential application to in-orbit fluid transfer and/or associated storage are presented. A literature search was conducted to obtain pertinent documents for review. Reports determined to be of primary significance were summarized in the following manner: (1) report identification, (2) objective(s) of the work, (3) description of pertinent work performed, (4) major results, and (5) comments of the reviewer. Pertinent figures are presented on a single facing page separate from the text. Specific areas covered are: fluid line dynamics and thermodynamics, low-g mass gauging, other instrumentation, stratification/pressurization, low-g vent systems, fluid mixing refrigeration and reliquefaction, and low-g interface control and liquid acquisition systems. Reports which were reviewed and not summarized, along with reasons for not summarizing, are also listed.
A framework for the revision of FORTRAN 77 is presented. There are two kinds of changes: features added to FORTRAN 77, and features remaining in FORTRAN 77 but not included in the core. The net effect of these changes is the following: (1) subroutine linkage facilities are enhanced to improve the interface with applications modules written in FORTRAN, (2) archaic control structures are replaced with modern ones, (3) the concept of storage association is removed, and (4) fixed-form source is replaced with free-form source.
A three dimensional fully viscous computer analysis was evaluated to determine its usefulness in the design of supersonic inlets. This procedure takes advantage of physical approximations to limit the high computer time and storage associated with complete Navier-Stokes solutions. Computed results are presented for a Mach 3.0 supersonic inlet with bleed and a Mach 7.4 hypersonic inlet. Good agreement was obtained between theory and data for both inlets. Results of a mesh sensitivity study are also shown.
The mathematical background in spectral analysis as applied to geodetic applications is summarized. The resolution (cut-off frequency) of the GEOS 3 altimeter data is examined by determining the shortest wavelength (corresponding to the cut-off frequency) recoverable. The data from some 18 profiles are used. The total power (variance) in the sea surface topography with respect to the reference ellipsoid as well as with respect to the GEM-9 surface is computed. A fast inversion algorithm for matrices of simple and block Toeplitz matrices and its application to least squares collocation is explained. This algorithm yields a considerable gain in computer time and storage in comparison with conventional least squares collocation. Frequency domain least squares collocation techniques are also introduced and applied to estimating gravity anomalies from GEOS 3 altimeter data. These techniques substantially reduce the computer time and requirements in storage associated with the conventional least squares collocation. Numerical examples given demonstrate the efficiency and speed of these techniques.
A three-dimensional fully viscous computer analysis, which retains the viscous nature of the Navier-Stokes equations, was evaluated to determine its usefulness in the design of supersonic inlets. This procedure takes advantage of physical approximations to limit the high computer time and storage associated with complete Navier-Stokes solutions. Computed results are presented for a Mach 3.0 supersonic inlet with bleed and a Mach 7.4 hypersonic inlet. Good agreement was obtained between theory and data for both inlets. Results of a mesh sensitivity study are also shown.
The main disadvantages of independent checkpointing are the possible domino effect and the associated storage space overhead for maintaining multiple checkpoints. In most previous work, it has been assumed that only the checkpoints older than the current global recovery line can be discarded. Here, we generalize a notion of recovery line to potential recovery line. Only the checkpoints belonging to at least one of the potential recovery lines cannot be discarded. By using the model of maximum-sized antichains on a partially ordered set, an efficient algorithm is developed for finding all non-discardable checkpoints, and we show that the number of non-discardable checkpoints cannot exceed N(N+1)/2, where N is the number of processors. Communication trace driven simulation for several hypercube programs is performed to show the benefit of the proposed algorithm for real applications.
Independent (uncoordinated) check pointing for parallel and distributed systems allows maximum process autonomy but suffers from possible domino effects and the associated storage space overhead for maintaining multiple checkpoints and message logs. In most research on check pointing and recovery, it was assumed that only the checkpoints and message logs older than the global recovery line can be discarded. It is shown how recovery line transformation and decomposition can be applied to the problem of efficiently identifying all discardable message logs, thereby achieving optimal garbage collection. Communication trace-driven simulation for several parallel programs is used to show the benefits of the proposed algorithm for message log reclamation.
Independent (uncoordinated) check pointing for parallel and distributed systems allows maximum process autonomy but suffers from possible domino effects and the associated storage space overhead for maintaining multiple checkpoints and message logs. In most research on check pointing and recovery, it was assumed that only the checkpoints and message logs older than the global recovery line can be discarded. It is shown how recovery line transformation and decomposition can be applied to the problem of efficiently identifying all discardable message logs, thereby achieving optimal garbage collection. Communication trace-driven simulation for several parallel programs is used to show the benefits of the proposed algorithm for message log reclamation.
Presentation for Final U.S. Department of Energy/NETL Closeout Meeting, virtual, October 2, 2025.
Loss of algal production from the crashes of algal mass cultivation systems represents a significant barrier to the economic production of microalgal-based biofuels. Current strategies for crash prevention can be too costly to apply broadly as prophylaxis. Bacteria are ubiquitous in microalgal mass production cultures, however few studies investigate their role and possible significance in this particular environment. Previously, we demonstrated the success of selected protective bacterial communities to save Microchloropsis salina cultures from grazing by the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. In the current study, these protective bacterial communities were further characterized by fractionation into rotifer-associated, algal-associated, and free-floating bacterial fractions. Small subunit ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing was used to identify the bacterial genera present in each of the fractions. Here, we show that Marinobacter, Ruegeria, and Boseongicola in algae and rotifer fractions from rotifer-infected cultures likely play key roles in protecting algae from rotifers. Several other identified taxa likely play lesser roles in protective capability. The identification of bacterial community members demonstrating protective qualities will allow for the rational design of microbial communities grown in stable co-cultures with algal production strains in mass cultivation systems. Such a system would reduce the frequency of culture crashes and represent an essentially zero-cost form of algal crop protection.
Abstract Tree‐mycorrhizal associations are associated with patterns in nitrogen (N) availability and soil organic matter storage; however, we still lack a mechanistic understanding of what tree and fungal traits drive these patterns and how they will respond to global changes in soil N availability. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated how arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)‐ and ectomycorrhizal (EcM)‐associated seedlings alter rhizodeposition in response to increased seedling inorganic N acquisition. We grew four species each of EcM and AM seedlings from forests of the eastern United States in a continuously 13 C‐labeled atmosphere within an environmentally controlled chamber and subjected to three levels of 15 N‐labeled fertilizer. We traced seedling 15 N uptake from, and 13 C‐labeled inputs (net rhizodeposition) into, root‐excluded or ‐included soil over a 5‐month growing season. N uptake by seedlings was positively related to rhizodeposition for EcM‐ but not AM‐associated seedlings in root‐included soils. Despite this contrast in rhizodeposition, there was no difference in soil C storage between mycorrhizal types over the course of the experiment. Instead root‐inclusive soils lost C, while root‐exclusive soils gained C. Our findings suggest that mycorrhizal associations mediate tree belowground C investment in response to inorganic N availability, but these differences do not affect C storage. Continued soil warming and N deposition under global change will increase soil inorganic N availability and our seedling results indicate this could lead to greater belowground C investment by EcM‐associated trees. This potential for less efficient N uptake by EcM‐trees could contribute to AM‐tree success and a shift toward more AM‐dominated temperate forests.
Conference paper presented at 17th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT-17), Calgary, Alberta, Canada, October 20–24, 2024. This paper presents the results of a detailed study into the potential atmospheric leakage risks associated with the geologic storage of CO 2 in saline aquifers. This study included a detailed literature review, a re-creation of existing CO 2 leakage models put forth by other authors and, lastly, the development of an enhanced model that can be utilized for assessing the potential losses to the atmosphere of stored CO 2 across a variety of potential project parameters. The results of this study indicate that, across broad ranges of input parameters for mechanisms that have the potential for CO 2 loss from the storage complex to the atmosphere, there is an extremely low risk of CO 2 leakage to the atmosphere, with the median leakage risk estimated to be 0.1% of total injected CO 2 . The risk of leakage from real-world storage projects is likely to be even lower than those estimated through this study.