Reactive Transport Modeling: From CO2 Geological Sequestration to Geothermal Energy Development

Tianfu Xu of the Earth Sciences Division, at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will be speaking.Reactive transport modeling can solve problems and answer questions related to CO2 geological sequestration, geothermal energy development, and petroleum engineering such as (1) fate and transport of injected CO2, amount of CO2 dissolved in groundwater and trapped by carbonate minerals, and variations of these storage forms over time, (2) chemical stimulation in a Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS), and optimizing injection water chemistry to avoid mineral precipitation in the geothermal reservoir, and (3) geological disposal of H2S (with CO2), and optimization of injection water chemistry to avoid formation damage due to waterflooding. Comprehensive reactive transport models such as TOUGHREACT have been developed that incorporate aqueous reactions, mineral dissolution and precipitation under equilibrium and kinetic conditions, and gas dissolution and exsolution coupled to multi-phase fluid flow. Practical examples for addressing geological problems and issues in these areas are presented. Recent advances and open challenges are also discussed.

Location: Hedco Pertroleum and Chemical Engineering Building (HED) - 116

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Takimoto Idania