Víctor Vilarrasa will give an invited talk at the KAUST Virtual Research Conference 2021: Enabling CO₂ Geological Storage within a Low-Carbon Economy, on Monday, February 22, 2021

GEoREST - Enabling CO₂

 

Víctor Vilarrasa will give an invited talk on "Extending geologic carbon storage from sedimentary formations to deep volcanic areas: Effects of cooling-induced stress on caprock and fault stability", at the KAUST Virtual Research Conference 2021: Enabling CO₂ Geological Storage within a Low-Carbon Economy, on Monday, February 22, 2021.

Speaker: Víctor Vilarrasa
Title: Enabling CO₂ Geological Storage within a Low-Carbon Economy
Date: February 22, 2021
Time: 18:30 - 18:40
Online venue: KAUST

Abstract:

Geologic carbon storage at the Gt scale is necessary to reach zero, and even negative, emissions in order to mitigate climate change. Yet, CO₂ storage will only be successful if the risks of induced seismicity and CO₂ leakage remain low. Controlling the former risk is favored by the low viscosity of CO₂, which induces a pore pressure buildup that is practically constant with time, facilitating pressure management. The latter risk relies on the low-permeable and high-entry pressure caprock because CO₂ is buoyant in deep saline formations. The caprock sealing capacity may be affected by thermally-induced stresses because the injected CO₂ typically reaches the storage formation at a colder temperature than that of the rock. To reduce the risk of leakage, it has been recently proposed to store CO₂ in deep volcanic areas above 375 °C because, at such conditions, CO₂ is denser than the resident water. This novel storage concept enhances the options for a widespread CO₂ storage, reducing CO₂ leakage risk. Nonetheless, the risk of induced seismicity may be enhanced in the long term as the cooling front advances into the storage formation.

GEoREST https://anperc.kaust.edu.sa/KAUST-Research-Conference-2021/Pages/Speaker.aspx?si=46

 

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