CDS&E: Data-driven modeling and analyses of CO2 transport in porous media

二氧化碳的地质封存被认为是减轻气候变化的不利影响的最有效战略之一，气候变化是由大量固定的人为来源排放的二氧化碳造成的。然而，由于二氧化碳在地下条件下复杂的流动行为，成功实施大规模二氧化碳封存存在着操作上的不确定性和风险。这项拟议的研究将通过分析从实验和数值研究中收集的大量数据，开发计算高效的数据驱动模型，以准确预测和分析地质地层中二氧化碳流动的复杂流动行为。该项目将德克萨斯大学(UT)泰勒化学工程核心课程所涵盖的基本主题与假设驱动的研究联系起来，以促进配备了为这项工作做出有意义贡献所需工具的学生的最大参与。此外，该项目还包括与得克萨斯大学泰勒大学学院和泰勒初级学院合作，开展外联活动，从代表性不足的人群中招募和吸引学生到气候变化和可持续能源生产的关键领域。建议的研究活动分为三个重点领域，其结果将对CO2在饱和卤水的多孔介质中的扩散、反应和对流传输的模拟产生重大影响，并包含地质不确定性：(1)利用实验数据量化和预测方解石等矿物在不同温度、压力和初始阳离子浓度下与CO2相互作用的溶解和沉淀；(2)利用从公共数据门户网站收集的岩心样品的高分辨率图像，评估孔隙度和渗透率对CO2流动行为的影响；(3)利用来自公共储存库的图像和数据，可视化和量化离散裂缝和不确定储层物性对二氧化碳在多孔介质中的通道和羽流运移的影响。将在每种情况下使用可靠的统计模型对生成或收集的数据进行分析，以实现项目目标，这将导致潜在的变革性技术，以改善深层盐碱地含水层的长期碳储存。最后，这项研究项目将通过公开讲座、动手演示和其他外展计划，为不同的受众提高公众对能源使用和二氧化碳排放的认识和科学素养。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The geological sequestration of CO2 is considered one of the most effective strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change due to the CO2 emitted from significant stationary anthropogenic sources. However, successful implementation of large-scale CO2 sequestration involves operational uncertainties and risks due to the complex flow behavior of CO2 in subsurface conditions. This proposed research will develop computationally efficient data-driven models to accurately predict and analyze the complex flow behavior of CO2 flow in geological formations by analyzing an extensive set of data collected from experimental and numerical studies. This project connects the fundamental topics covered in core chemical engineering courses at University of Texas (UT) Tyler to hypothesis-driven research, which promotes maximum participation of students equipped with the tools needed to make meaningful contributions to this work. Furthermore, this project involves outreach activities to recruit and attract students from under-represented populations, in collaboration with UT Tyler University Academy and Tyler Junior College, to the critical areas of climate change and sustainable energy production. The proposed research activities are organized into three focus areas, the results from which will have a significant influence on the modeling of the diffusive, reactive, and convective transport of CO2 in porous media saturated with brine and consisting of geological uncertainties: (1) Quantify and predict the dissolution and precipitation of minerals such as calcite at different temperatures, pressures, and initial cation concentrations due to the interaction with CO2 using experimental data; (2) Evaluate the effect of porosity and permeability on the flow behavior of CO2 using high-resolution images of core samples collected from public data portals; (3) Visualize, and quantify the effect of discrete fractures and uncertain reservoir properties on channeling and plume migration of CO2 in porous media using images and data from public repositories. The generated or collected data will be analyzed in each case using robust statistical models to achieve the project objectives, which will lead to potentially transformative technologies to improve long-term carbon storage in deep saline aquifers. Finally, this research project will increase public awareness and enhance scientific literacy around energy use and CO2 emissions for a diverse audience through public lectures, hands-on demonstrations, and other outreach programs.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.