The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is hosting this lecture in DC 1304:
Optimizing Capillary Trapping as a Carbon Dioxide Mitigation Strategy: Pore-Scale Findings in Support of Larger-Scale Implementation
Dr. Wildenshchild is this year's Darcy lecturer for the National Groundwater Association.
Abstract:
Discover how x-ray microtomography is being studied for possible use as a technique to optimize capillary trapping of carbon dioxide in this presentation. Capillary trapping is a mechanism supporting carbon capture and storage (CCS), which is being considered as a mitigation strategy for emissions from concentrated sources such as coal-fired power plants.
Initial work using x-ray microtomography has focused on proxy fluid-based systems and experiments carried out at ambient conditions. As the interfacial tension, viscosity, and carbon dioxide injection (as well as subsequent brine flood injection) rates are varied, trends have been observed with the type of porous medium (unconsolidated vs. consolidated), varying wetting and nonwetting phase viscosity, and flow rates. The latter in particular has been investigated for its effect on morphology and connectivity of the trapped nonwetting phase (i.e., the supercritical carbon dioxide).
Results
so
far
indicate
that
carbon
dioxide
injection
can
be
manipulated
to
facilitate
optimal
trapping
of
residual
carbon
dioxide,
both
in
terms
of
amount
and
with
respect
to
size/
connectivity
characteristics
that
may
favorably
support
subsequent
trapping
reactions
(e.g.,
dissolution
and
mineral
formation).