NUPUS: Research Project "investigations on coupled flow and bio-geochemical processes during and after storage of CO2 in the subsurface"

Department of Hydromechanics and Modelling of Hydrosystems

Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) within the International Research Training Group (ITRG 1938) "Non-linearities and Upscaling in Porous Media (NUPUS)" from 1st October 2012 until 30th September 2015-09-30

Description

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) will be utilized in the near future to mitigate the global climate change by reducing the emissions of CO2, which is injected in the subsurface. Optimal CCS reservoirs are separated from above aquifers by a low permeability cap rock to prevent leakage of CO2 from the reservoir and lie in great depths to achieve favorable storage conditions. Ideally, this should be sufficient to ensure the safe storage of CO2, but since it is difficult to determine the exact geological features of potentially suitable formations, it is still possible that significant leakage occurs a chosen storage site. Such leakage may occur due to previously unknown fractures or other weak spots in the cap rock or due to geochemical or mechanical processes initiated by the injection and migration of CO2.

Further research to improve sealing technologies used to mitigate potential leakage, like the injection of cement or biomineralization, requires understanding of both the (bio-) and geochemical reactions and the transport of the different components in both CO2 and water phase.

The intention of this project is to develop models capable of simulating complex transport and bio-geochemical processes at a laboratory or field scale to be able to investigate the effects of CCS on the geochemistry and aid in the design of technologies to reduce or even prevent leakage from CO2 reservoirs.
This is a follow-up project to: Modellierung der Entwicklung von Biofilmen und deren Einfluss auf den CO2- und Wasserfluss in porösen Medien

Poster

Project managers

Cunningham, Alfred B.
Class, Holger

Deputy
Research assistant

Hommel, Johannes

Department

LH2

Duration

10/2012 - 09/2015

Funding

International research training group NUPUS / German Research Foundation (DFG)

Cooperation partners

Prof. Alfred Cunningham (Montana State University)

Contact

This image shows Lehrstuhl für Hydromechanik und Hydrosystem-modellierung

Lehrstuhl für Hydromechanik und Hydrosystem-modellierung

 
 

Anfahrt

Pfaffenwaldring 61, 70569 Stuttgart

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