Resource exploration for a net-zero emission future with electromagnetic methods in applied geophysics

应用地球物理学中电磁方法的资源勘探，实现净零排放的未来

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-02528
• 负责人: Swidinsky, Andrei
• 金额: $ 2.62万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=751232
• 关键词: Resource; exploration; net; zero; emission

The World Health Organization has stated that "Climate change is the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century". To address the climate crisis, every effort must be made to reduce the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Indeed, for Canada to achieve its 2050 goal of net-zero emissions, innovations in green energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) storage technology are essential. I believe that geophysics plays an important role in this goal through the strategic value of our natural resources. The overarching vision of my research program is to develop novel electromagnetic (EM) methods which will enable geothermal energy, critical minerals and carbon capture & storage (CCS) solutions to the climate change problem - a multifaceted approach helping Canada and the world transition into a net-zero emission future. Geothermal energy: As of 2020 Canada generates no large-scale electrical power from geothermal systems. Recent US Geological Survey estimates have indicated that there may be as much as 30GWe of undiscovered hydrothermal resources (enough electricity for about 30 million North American households) and over 500GWe of enhanced geothermal system (EGS) resources in the United States, but whether similar potential exists in Canada remains to be seen. New EM methods developed specifically for geothermal exploration and EGS characterization will improve resource estimations and in the long run, impact the domestic energy mix. Critical minerals: Canada has long been a leader in mineral exploration and has a significant green energy-enabling critical mineral resource potential. Rapid and cost effective innovative EM exploration techniques will lead to new domestic discoveries and ultimately benefit the Canadian economy, particularly in light of the recently finalized Canada-U.S. Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration. Carbon capture & storage: With several large-scale commercial and demonstration projects underway in Canada, there is a need for monitoring technologies to ensure that CO2 does not leak or seep to surface after storage. Unique subsurface imaging solutions including time-lapse EM surveys will impact energy policy by enabling compliance monitoring of legislated emissions guidelines. Many research groups have used geophysical measurements to demonstrate the severity of climate change. However, research programs specifically focused on enabling solutions to the climate change problem using applied geophysics are far less common. There is an opportunity to advance domestic green energy interests using electromagnetics, and the first 5 years of my research program will use numerical models to study a suite of novel EM imaging methods - each tailored towards one of the carbon-neutral applications described above. The outcomes of this modelling work will guide future prototype field experiments, leading to the use of new exploration technologies for net-zero resources in Canada and around the globe.

世界卫生组织指出，“气候变化是21世纪全球健康面临的最大威胁”。为了解决气候危机，必须尽一切努力减少向大气中排放温室气体。事实上，加拿大要实现2050年净零排放的目标，绿色能源和二氧化碳储存技术的创新至关重要。我相信地球物理学通过我们自然资源的战略价值在实现这一目标方面发挥着重要作用。我的研究计划的总体愿景是开发新的电磁（EM）方法，使地热能，关键矿物和碳捕获与储存（CCS）解决方案能够解决气候变化问题-一种多方面的方法，帮助加拿大和世界过渡到净零排放的未来。地热能：截至2020年，加拿大没有大规模利用地热系统发电。美国地质调查局最近的估计表明，美国可能有多达30GWe的未发现热液资源（足够约3000万北美家庭使用）和超过500GWe的增强型地热系统（EGS）资源，但加拿大是否存在类似的潜力仍有待观察。专门为地热勘探和EGS表征开发的新EM方法将改善资源估计，从长远来看，将影响国内能源结构。关键矿产：加拿大长期以来一直是矿产勘探的领导者，具有重要的绿色能源关键矿产资源潜力。快速且具有成本效益的创新型EM勘探技术将带来新的国内发现，并最终使加拿大经济受益，特别是考虑到最近完成的加拿大-美国油气协议。关键矿物合作联合行动计划。碳捕获和封存：加拿大正在进行几个大型商业和示范项目，需要监测技术来确保二氧化碳在封存后不会泄漏或渗漏到地面。独特的地下成像解决方案，包括延时电磁调查，将影响能源政策，使法规排放准则的合规监测成为可能。许多研究小组已经使用地球物理测量来证明气候变化的严重性。然而，专门致力于利用应用地球物理学解决气候变化问题的研究项目远不常见。有机会利用电磁学来推进国内绿色能源利益，我的研究计划的前5年将使用数值模型来研究一套新的EM成像方法-每种方法都是针对上述碳中和应用之一量身定制的。这项建模工作的结果将指导未来的原型现场实验，从而在加拿大和全球范围内使用新的零净资源勘探技术。