1

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

2

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

3

Outline Natural CCS Analogues: What are

They

Roles of Natural and Industrial Analogues

4

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)

5

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

6

Near Surface Interaction

Springs provide valuable information on chemical evolution of CO2 laden fluids

7

Geochemistry of Reservoir Fluids

Microbiology and CCS

8

9

Mineralization

Some Things are Just Interesting

10

11

New Pressurized Well

12

Recent Well Eruption

Annulus leakage

13

CAES Study at Box Canyon

Fieldwork is Much Cheaper Than Drilling

14

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?