CDI-TYPE II: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: COMPUTATIONAL MODELS FOR EVALUATING LONG TERM CO2 STORAGE IN SALINE AQUIFERS

Collaborative Research: Computational Models for Evaluating Long TermCO2 Storage in Saline AquifersThe key goal of this project is to produce a prototypicalcomputational system to accurately predict the fate of injected CO2in conditions governed by multiphase flow, rock mechanics,multicomponent transport, thermodynamic phase behavior, chemicalreactions within both the fluid and the rock, and the coupling of allthese phenomena over multiple time and spatial scales.To tackle this grand challenge effort, a multidisciplinary researchteam has been assembled of senior researchers M. F. Wheeler,T. Arbogast, and M. Delshad of the Center for Subsurface Modelingand I. Duncan from the Bureau of Economic Geology at TheUniversity of Texas at Austin, as well as M. Parashar ofthe Applied Software Systems Laboratory at Rutgers University. Thisgroup has expertise in (1) applied mathematics and computationalscience that includes multiscale and multiphysics algorithms, solvers,uncertainty, and optimization (2) computer sciencethat includes dynamic adaptivity, model/code couplings, and datamanagement and transport (3) compositional modeling andCO2 injection processes and (4) CO2 demonstration sites.In each of the third and fourth years of the project, we willhost a two-day workshop for high school teachers, advanced high schoolstudents, and undergraduate students with an interest in high schoolteaching. We will provide training in the use of a sophisticated groundwatersimulator, to be used as a tool to engage and pique the interest ofhigh schoolers, perhaps leading some to careers in mathematics, thesciences, and interdisciplinary work. In addition, two postdoctoralstudents and roughly two graduate students will be supportedthroughout the project.Geologic sequestration is a proven means of permanent CO2 greenhouse gasstorage, but it is difficult to design and manage such efforts. Predictivecomputational simulation may be the only means to account for the lack ofcomplete characterization of the subsurface environment, the multiple scales ofthe various interacting processes, the large areal extent of saline aquifers,and the need for long time predictions. This proposal will investigate highfidelity multiscale and multiphysics algorithms necessary for simulation ofmultiphase flow and transport coupled with geochemical reactions and relatedmineralogy, and geomechanical deformation in porous media to predict changes inrock properties during sequestration. The work will result in a prototypicalcomputational framework with advanced numerical algorithms and underlyingtechnology for research in CO2 applications, which has been validated andverified against field-scale experimental tests. The multidisciplinaryresearch team has expertise in (1) applied mathematics and computationalscience, (2) computer science and engineering, (3) compositional modeling andCO2 injection processes, and (4) CO2 demonstration sites.In each of the third and fourth years of the project, we willhost a two-day workshop for high school teachers, advanced high schoolstudents, and undergraduate students with an interest in high schoolteaching. We will provide training in the use of a sophisticated groundwatersimulator, to be used as a tool to engage and pique the interest ofhigh schoolers, perhaps leading some to careers in mathematics, thesciences, and interdisciplinary work. In addition, two postdoctoralstudents and roughly two graduate students will be supportedthroughout the project.