RECS Day 3 - NETL Scientists Highlight Onsite Research
June 8th - Dr. George Guthrie, Focus Area Leader for NETL’s Geological and Environmental Sciences Division in the Office of Research and Development and Dr. Ale Hakala, Geoscientist, highlighted key areas of NETL’s onsite research in CO2 storage for the RECS group. Dr. Hakala focused her talk on geochemistry, which plays an important role in all aspects of a storage system from near-surface and subsurface monitoring to understanding CO2 plume behavior, seal and wellbore integrity and protecting groundwater. Dr. Hakala tackles fundamental aspects of multiphase fluid (H2O + CO2)-rock interactions through experimental geochemistry in the lab as well as field tests. The results of her experiments offer robust inputs for modeling efforts used for predictive tools and quantitative risk assessment. Under Dr. Gurthrie’s direction, NETL has taken a leading role in the National Risk Assessment Program, a multi-national lab effort on CO2 risk assessment that is working to improve site-specific assessments, strategic monitoring (MVA), mitigation strategies and site performance prediction. Its focus is to bridge the basic and applied gap to develop a strong science base to ensure successful large-scale CO2 storage demonstration.
Dani Petrucci of DOE with Drs. Hakala and Guthrie at Alabama Power’s Plant Gorgas, location of a DOE-supported geological carbon storage site characterization study
