Engineering Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage Systems I

In order to reduce greenhouse gases globally, permanent storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) from major power and industrial CO2 sources must be demonstrated as safe, efficient, and cost-effective. Continued research and development is needed to build on successes and generate a better understanding of storage processes in different geologic formations, including multi-phase flow, thermodynamics, geochemistry, and geomechanics. Improvements in monitoring technologies aimed at CO2 storage containment, CO2 plume tracking, and leakage detection, as well as development and validation of models for simulation of geologic storage aspects, are needed to ensure that CO2 storage operations are safe, effective, and permanent in all types of geologic formations. Further development of capabilities for the estimation and management of storage resources is essential. Studies on risks and consequences associated with long-term storage constitute another set of pressing concerns. The economic incentive for utilization of CO2 in enhanced oil or gas recovery operations, followed by permanent geologic storage, also makes this an area of substantial interest. Worldwide, several dozen field projects have now been initiated for geologic carbon storage, and countless more laboratory and pilot-scale studies are underway to better understand storage processes. For this session, participants in such projects, as well as researchers in the science and technology of carbon storage, are invited to present their work on topics of interest.