travis mcling presentation

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Natural Analogs Research Opportunities

Travis L. McLing (INL\CAES) June 13th – RECS 2011

Birmingham, AL

CAES continues to develop meaningful R&D and educational collaborations among the State Universities, Idaho National Laboratory and private industry

CAES conducts research that makes a difference in energy, creates the workforce for the future, and leads to technology-based economic development

Progress to date: –  CAES affiliates have won almost $17M in R&D grants and

contracts –  Over 250 nuclear, engineering, and science students –  Industry partnerships include: Premier, Blackhawk, Shell,

AREVA

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CAES Building – Carbon Research Laboratory

•  Micro Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Microscope

•  Gas Chromatograph -Mass Spectrometer

•  Scanning Electron Microscope –Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy

•  Optical Petrographic Microscope

•  Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometer, - Mass Spectrometer, - Laser Ablation

Examples of Natural Analog Studies

•  Radio active waste disposal

•  Space exploration

•  Contaminant transport

•  Water infiltration/recharge

•  CO2 sequestration

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Outline Natural CCS Analogues: What are

They

Roles of Natural and Industrial Analogues

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Storage Security & Permanence

Natural Analog Studies are Gaining Prominence

•  Big Sky Partnership Outcrop Studies

•  IEA-GHG Research Program

•  INL/CAES Soda Springs Study

•  Crystal Geyser

•  Latera Natural Site (Italy)

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CO2 Natural Analogs Are Common

•  Soda Springs, ID •  Crystal Geyser, UT •  Latera Central Italy •  Mammoth •  McElmo Dome, CO •  St Johns-Springerville Dome, UT •  Sheep Mountain, CO •  Jackson Dome, MS •  Otway Basin Australia •  Ultra Mafic, Oman, Norway, USA •  Iceland •  Kevin Dome….

Western Examples - Understudy

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Near Surface Interaction

Springs provide valuable information on chemical evolution of CO2 laden fluids

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Geochemistry of Reservoir Fluids

Microbiology and CCS

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Mineralization

Some Things are Just Interesting

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New Pressurized Well

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Recent Well Eruption

Annulus leakage

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CAES Study at Box Canyon

Fieldwork is Much Cheaper Than Drilling

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Conclusion: analogs can they help?

•  CO2 water rock interactions •  Injectibility

–  Injection strategy –  Sustainability

•  EOR •  Environmental Risk

–  Leakage –  Contamination –  Produced\displaced water

•  Monitoring Measuring and Verification (MMA) •  Characterization

–  Estimates from range as high as $100 million to fully characterize a site for large-scale CCS deployment…perhaps 30-40 million before a decision can be made.

•  Liability –  Price Anderson model?