Computational Models for Evaluating Long Term CO2 Storage in Saline Aquifers

(funded by NSF and KAUST through the Academic Excellence Alliance Program)

Geologic sequestration is a proven means of permanent CO2 greenhouse gas storage, but it is difficult to design and manage such efforts. Predictive computational simulation may be the only means to account for the lack of complete characterization of the subsurface environment, the multiple scales of the various interacting processes, the large areal extent of saline aquifers, and the need for long time predictions. This project investigates high fidelity multiscale and multiphysics algorithms necessary for simulation of multiphase flow and transport coupled with geochemical reactions and related mineralogy, and geomechanical deformation in porous media to predict changes in rock properties during sequestration. The work will result in a prototypical computational framework with advanced numerical algorithms and underlying technology for research in CO2 applications, which has been validated and verified against field-scale experimental tests.