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![Different types of underground gas storage systems [56].](publication/317787241/figure/fig5/AS:1086518173151241@1636057527557/Different-types-of-underground-gas-storage-systems-56_Q320.jpg)
It is not the first time in human history, nor will it be the last for that matter, that a collective problem calls for a collective response. Climate change fueled by greenhouse emissions affects humankind alike. Despite the disagreement among policymakers and scientists on the severity of the issue, the truth is that the problem remains. A broad...
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... Underground natural gas storage started in 1915 and is currently a reality, with nearly 700 facilities developed worldwide. CO2 storage is widely acknowledged to be an essential step toward decarbonization: 30 large-scale facilities are operated worldwide and over 160 are underway [2][3][4]. Eventually, underground hydrogen storage is more and more regarded as an opportunity-if not a need-to fully exploit the potential of renewable energy [5][6][7][8]. ...
The understanding of multiphase flow phenomena occurring in porous media at the pore scale is fundamental in a significant number of fields, from life science to geo and environmental engineering. However, because of the optical opacity and the geometrical complexity of natural porous media, detailed visual characterization is not possible or is limited and requires powerful and expensive imaging techniques. As a consequence, the understanding of micro-scale behavior is based on the interpretation of macro-scale parameters and indirect measurements. Microfluidic devices are transparent and synthetic tools that reproduce the porous network on a 2D plane, enabling the direct visualization of the fluid dynamics. Moreover, microfluidic patterns (also called micromodels) can be specifically designed according to research interests by tuning their geometrical features and surface properties. In this work we design, fabricate and test two different micromodels for the visualization and analysis of the gas-brine fluid flow, occurring during gas injection and withdrawal in underground storage systems. In particular, we compare two different designs: a regular grid and a real rock-like pattern reconstructed from a thin section of a sample of Hostun rock. We characterize the two media in terms of porosity, tortuosity and pore size distribution using the A* algorithm and CFD simulation. We fabricate PDMS-glass devices via soft lithography, and we perform preliminary air-water displacement tests at different capillary numbers to observe the impact of the design on the fluid dynamics. This preliminary work serves as a validation of design and fabrication procedures and opens the way to further investigations.
... Although the physical blending approach can have some drawback, such as miscibility and homogeneity of the blend components, it is still one of the most cost effective and fast alternatives to enhance the physical properties of pristine PIMs polymers [13][14][15][16][17]. In particular, an attracting material highly soluble to CO 2 and largely studied for CCS [18], are ionic liquids (ILs). ILs have also attracted attentions as a green solvent compared to traditional ones, besides being chemically and thermally stable, having a negligible vapor pressure and for their ease and scalable synthesis [19,20]. ...
Membranes with high CO2 solubility are essential for developing a separation technology with low carbon footprint. To this end, physical blend membranes of [BMIM][Ac] and [BMIM][Succ] as Ionic Liquids (ILs) and PIM-1 as the polymer were prepared trying to combine the high permeability properties of PIM-1 with the high CO2 solubility of the chosen ILs. Membranes with a PIM-1/[BMIM][Ac] 4/1 ratio nearly double their CO2 solubility at 0.8 bar (0.86 cm3 (STP)/cm3 cmHg), while other ratios still maintain similar solubilities to PIM-1 (0.47 cm3 (STP)/cm3 cmHg). Moreover, CO2 permeability of PIM-1 /[BMIM][Ac] blended membranes were between 1050 and 2090 Barrer for 2/1 and 10/1 ratio, lower than PIM-1 membrane, but still highly permeable. The here presented self-standing and mechanically resistant blend membranes have yet a lower permeability compared to PIM-1 yet an improved CO2 solubility, which eventually will translate in higher CO2/N2 selectivity. These promising preliminary results will allow us to select and optimize the best performing PIM-1 /ILs blends to develop outstanding membranes for an improved gas separation technology.
... Geological carbon dioxide sequestration offers a promising solution to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The experience gained from CO 2 injection in many existing enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects [1][2][3][4], as well as from operating CO 2 storage sites [5,6], indicates that it is feasible to store CO 2 in geological formations as a mitigation option to climate change [7][8][9][10][11]. ...
Three-dimensional numerical models of potential underground storage and compositional simulation are a way to study the feasibility of storing carbon dioxide in the existing geological formations. However, the results of the simulations are affected by many numerical parameters, and we proved that the refinement of the model grid is one of them. In this study, the impact of grid discretization on CO2 trapping when the CO2 is injected into a deep saline aquifer was investigated. Initially, the well bottom-hole pressure profiles during the CO2 injection were simulated using four different grids. As expected, the results confirmed that the overpressure reached during injection is strongly affected by gridding, with coarse grids leading to non-representative values unless a suitable ramp-up CO2 injection strategy is adopted. Then, the same grids were used to simulate the storage behavior after CO2 injection so as to assess whether space discretization would also affect the simulation of the quantity of CO2 trapped by the different mechanisms. A comparison of the obtained results showed that there is also a significant impact of the model gridding on the simulated amount of CO2 permanently trapped in the aquifer by residual and solubility trapping, especially during the few hundred years following injection. Conversely, stratigraphic/hydrodynamic trapping, initially confining the CO2 underground due to an impermeable caprock, does not depend on gridding, whereas significant mineral trapping would typically occur over a geological timescale. The conclusions are that a fine discretization, which is acknowledged to be needed for a reliable description of the pressure evolution during injection, is also highly recommended to obtain representative results when simulating CO2 trapping in the subsurface. However, the expedients on CO2 injection allow one to perform reliable simulations even when coarse grids are adopted. Permanently trapped CO2 would not be correctly quantified with coarse grids, but a reliable assessment can be performed on a small, fine-grid model, with the results then extended to the large, coarse-grid model. The issue is particularly relevant because storage safety is strictly connected to CO2 permanent trapping over time.
... The authors believe that, as opposed to permanent geological sequestration, temporary underground storage should be part of the CCUS process as a strategy to efficiently couple CO 2 capture with CO 2 valorization options, i.e. the storage acts like a "buffer". In this approach, CO 2 storage is fully integrated with valorization technologies leading to a virtuous CO 2 cycle, or the three C's: Capture, Cache and Convert (Bocchini et al., 2017). Each industrial segment could operate independently and optimize its own value chain with an expected significant efficiency enhancement, largely offsetting the cost due to storage. ...
The paper provides an overview of the several scientific and technical issues and challenges to be addressed for underground storage of carbon dioxide, hydrogen and mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas. The experience gained on underground energy systems and materials is complemented by new competences to adequately respond to the new needs raised by transition from fossil fuels to renewables. The experimental characterization and modeling of geological formations (including geochemical and microbiological issues), fluids and fluid-flow behavior and mutual interactions of all the systems components at the thermodynamic conditions typical of underground systems as well as the assessment and monitoring of safety conditions of surface facilities and infrastructures require a deeply integrated teamwork and fit-for-purpose laboratories to support theoretical research. The group dealing with large-scale underground energy storage systems of Politecnico di Torino has joined forces with the researchers of the Center for Sustainable Future Technologies of the Italian Institute of Technology, also based in Torino, to meet these new challenges of the energy transition era, and evidence of the ongoing investigations is provided in this paper.
... Different CO 2 separation techniques are available based on different physico-chemical phenomena: absorption or adsorption, either physical or chemical, membrane or cryogenic-based separation. Besides the working principle, energy consumption, toxicity and operating cost must be taken into account for the technologic implementation [3]. Amine scrubbing process is the most notable and widespread technology: the first process was patented in 1930 [4]. ...
Choline/amino acid-based ionic liquids were synthetized via ionic metathesis and their CO2 absorption performances evaluated by employing different experimental approaches. In order to overcome any viscosity-related problem, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was employed as solvent. IL-DMSO solutions with different IL concentrations were evaluated as absorbents for CO2, also investigating their good cyclability as desirable for real industrial CO2 capture technologies. ¹H-NMR and in-situ ATR-IR experiments were the toolbox to study the CO2 chemical fixation mechanism under different experimental conditions, proving the formation of distinct chemical species (carbamic acid and/or ammonium carbamate). In general, these ILs demonstrated molar uptakes higher than classical 0.5 mol CO2/mol IL and the capacity to release CO2 in extremely mild conditions. The possible biological adverse effects were also analyzed, for the first time, in zebrafish (Danio rerio) during the development, by assessing for different toxicological endpoints, proving the non-toxicity and high biocompatibility of these bio-inspired ILs.
... China and India), and promoting more research and development in renewables and the technologies to support them. In fact, an important sector for innovation includes CO 2 Capture and Storage (CCS), that allow the reduction of CO 2 emissions in the atmosphere from large stationary sources, such as power plants fueled by fossil fuels, through its capture and subsequent storage in an underground geological formation (IPCC, 2005); the more recent Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) that combines CO 2 capture with its reuse both as a technological fluid and as a reagent for the production of chemical substances, plastics or fuels, thus obtaining a product of commercial value able to balance the costs necessary for CO 2 capture (Boot-Handford et al., 2014); and the Capture Cache and Convert (CCC) that aims at CO 2 recycling by the use nanomaterials (Bocchini et al., 2017). ...
In the future, we will experience a continuously increasing energy demand mostly due to the continuous growth of the world population.Today we use fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) in order to cover the society's basic needs. This involves significant CO2 emissions that contribute to the climate change by contributing to the increase of the global temperature. A great number of countries through international agreements are working on energy transition towards renewable energy resources targeting to a sustainable future. In reality though the path the world has to follow is still long and the transition towards a green future cannot be immediate. Some of the most populated countries still rely on coal as their main energy source while oil is still the most frequently used fuel in transportation. Furthermore, the passage to new energy sources would mean new facilities and new distribution networks that are not economically possible for many countries. In this energy transition natural gas can play an important role as the mid-point between traditional fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. It produces lower emissions than coal and oil, the facilities for its extraction and transportation already exist in many countries and can support the energy consumption needs of the modern society. In combination with CO2 capture and sequestration applications it can provide a realistic (greener) transition towards a fossil-fuel free future.
... Ongoing researches for the application of nanomaterials to address an array of issues that arise in oil and gas exploration have given promising results. Among the research worth mentioning is the use of nanomaterial-based sensors for reservoir monitoring and surveillance [1], nanotechnology for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process [2], and for mitigating the environmental footprint of the oil industry [3,4]. Though ground has been covered, there is still a lot to pursue and achieve. ...
This paper presents a critical review and the state of the art of graphene porous membranes, a brand-new technology and backdrop to discuss its potential application for efficient water desalination in low salinity water injection (LSWI). LSWI technology consists in injecting designed, adequately modified, filtered water to maximize oil production. To this end, desalination technologies already available can be further optimized, for example, via graphene membranes, to achieve greater efficiency in water-oil displacement. Theoretical and experimental applications of graphene porous membranes in water desalination have shown promising results over the last 5-6 years. Needless to say, improvements are still needed before graphene porous membranes become readily available. However, the present work simply sets out to demonstrate, at least in principle, the practical potential graphene membranes would have in hydrocarbon recovery processes.
... The SEADOG Research Center at Politecnico di Torino is involved in research and development activities on safety and environmental monitoring for offshore hydrocarbon exploration and cultivation facilities. Current research involves the study and development of new generation sensors-based monitoring systems, relying on innovative micro and nano-scale, but robust technologies already available at the Research Center Balma et al., 2011;Tommasi et al., 2014;Ramella et al., 2015a;Ramella et al., 2015b;Bocchini et al., 2017;Chiolerio et al., 2013;Stassi et al., 2012;Stassi et al., 2013;Vento-environment technologies, for the growth of active material sensitive to the presence of target gases even at very low concentrations and based on semiconducting metal oxide nanostructures (Huang and Choi, 2007;Huang and Wan, 2009;Calestani et al., 2010;Leccardi et al., 2012) and (ii) Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology (Bogue, 2013;Tommasi et al., 2014;Marasso et al., 2016;Balma et al., 2011; for the construction of the suspended microstructure (micromembrane or micro hotplate), based on an electrically and thermally insulating material on which the above mentioned sensing material and the electronic devices for its control are integrated. ...
The Oil&Gas industry features peculiar characteristics and criticalities in terms of risk assessment and management, both for the environment and for human health. The offshore framework, due to its unique logistics, compactness and density of installations, is a further specificity for which various recommended practices and standards, constantly evolving and with significant differences depending on the geographical scenario, are currently in use. Starting from an accurate analysis of such standards and the state of the art of environmental monitoring and fire&gas alert systems, the SEADOG (Safety & Environmental Analysis Division for Oil&Gas) research center of Politecnico di Torino is developing a new generation of sensing platforms characterized by limited dimensions, optimization of energy requirements and reduced implementation costs, with the aim of improving risks control protocols by distributed plant monitoring and the detection of chemicals that are accidentally dispersed in the sea. In this regard an innovative solid state sensor for H2S detection, fabricated by MEMS and micro-hotplate technology and integrating nanostructured material, and a spectrophotometric monitoring platform for the detection of heavy metal ions in offshore installations neighboring waters will be described in detail.
The research explores the definition, formalization, and validation of a sound and rigorous methodology for analyzing a vast amount of satellite-based measures to geo-localize and quantify the ground movements induced
by the storage of natural gas in underground formations. Time series decomposition analysis and unsupervised machine learning algorithms (partitive and hierarchical clustering) are adopted for processing, categorizing, and
interpreting ground vertical movements from InSAR acquisitions. At the surface level, storage operations induce characteristic seasonal and cyclical movements, showing uplift during the injection period and subsidence during the withdrawal one. Consequently, the analysis of the solely sinusoidal component of the vertical movements (obtained via the time-series decomposition) turns out to be the key aspect of the proposed approach for handling the superposition of different ground movement sources, and consequently for clearly and reliably identifying the effects of underground gas storage (UGS) only.
The proposed methodology was validated using two independent case studies in the Po Plain (northern Italy), a highly urbanized area affected by ground movements induced by several natural and anthropogenic causes,
including underground gas storage facilities. For each case study, the methodology localizes one well-defined and confined area as the most affected by storage operations: this area corresponds to a cluster characterized by a high cohesion and by a seasonality phase coherent with the storage injection/withdrawal periods. The other clusters group areally wide-spread measurement points; the phase of their sinusoidal curves shows no timecoherency (or even phase opposition) with the seasonal storage operations. The results were verified via available independent information about the storage locations and were compared with the findings of previous
research.
Underground fluid storage is gaining increasing attention as a means to balance energy production and consumption, ensure energy supply security, and contribute to greenhouse gas reduction in the atmosphere by CO2 geological sequestration. However, underground fluid storage generates pressure changes, which in turn induce stress variations and rock deformations. Numerical geomechanical models are typically used to predict the response of a given storage to fluid injection and withdrawal, but validation is required for such a model to be considered reliable. This paper focuses on the technology and methodology that we developed to monitor seabed movements and verify the predictions of the impact caused by offshore underground fluid storage. To this end, we put together a measurement system, integrated into an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, to periodically monitor the seabed bathymetry. Measurements repeated during and after storage activities can be compared with the outcome of numerical simulations and indirectly confirm the existence of safety conditions. To simulate the storage system response to fluid storage, we applied the Virtual Element Method. To illustrate and discuss our methodology, we present a possible application to a depleted gas reservoir in the Adriatic Sea, Italy, where several underground geological formations could be potentially converted into storage in the future.
