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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Quillinan, et al 2018 DOE Geothermal Technology Office REE Report for NEWTS Database and Case Studies

Produced water data processed into the NEWTS data format for easy input into aqueous chemistry modeling software, including oil & gas and coal bed methane produced waters, and geothermal waters. Includes information on rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals (CMs). Case studies are included to demonstrate solved streams using aqueous chemistry software. An input template is provided for modeling stream data in OLI Studio. Original data from: Quillinan, Scott, Nye, Charles, Engle, Mark, Bartos, Timothy T., Neupane, Ghanashyam, Brant, Jonathan, Bagdonas, Davin, McLing, Travis, McLaughlin, J. Fred, Phillips, Erin, Hallberg, Laura L., Shahabadi, Mahdi, and Johnson, Matthew. Assessing rare earth element concentrations in geothermal and oil and gas produced waters: A potential domestic source of strategic mineral commodities (Final Report). United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.2172/1509037.

Aqueous Chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2025

WELLS Interactive Application

The Wellbore Exploration and Location Logistic System (WELLS) Interactive Application is an interactive tool to enable easy exploration and visualization of the living national wellbore database (WELLS Database (https://edx.netl.doe.gov/dataset/wells_database)). The tool and underlying database were created and are maintained by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), providing visualization of the more than six million public wellbore records from more than 65 authoritative state, federal, and tribal resources. The WELLS Interactive Application serves up wellbore data from oil, gas, underground injection, research, geothermal, geotechnical, groundwater, and other types of wells in a single, standardized, unified system. In addition to the surface location of these wells, the underlying database combines select key attributes for features such as well age, depth, and operating status. The system also provides users with references back to the original sources used in this unified platform. The underlying data can be accessed through the WELLS Database: https://edx.netl.doe.gov/dataset/wells_database Additional Information: The WELLS Interactive Application (formerly titled CO2-Locate) enables visualization and access to the public wellbore records through an intuitive web-based mapping tool. The WELLS Interactive Application was designed to help users visualize, query, analyze, and download wellbore records. Public wellbore points are included as a layer in the Map page, called Public Wells. Additionally, a multivariate hexagon grid summarizing well density from proprietary well data, called Well Density, is included to identify data gaps between the public and proprietary well data. Filtering functionalities in the tool allow these two layers to be spatially filtered by state, county, or basin as well as by status, type, true vertical depth, and spud year. The WELLS Interactive Application also contains a Near Me tool can be used to search and explore wellbore data within a user-defined distance of a specified location on the map, which can also be downloaded. The Query tool allows users to query the selected or filtered wells in the Public Wells layer and export the data. For additional information on these tool functionalities, see the help documentation on the About page of the tool. Notes for Consideration: The Well Density layer provided in this application is derived from proprietary wellbore data, the records of which do not always contain values for key features (status, type, true vertical depth, or spud year). Therefore, data might not be available when layers are queried for all filter combinations. Additionally, visualizing layers and applying filters may take additional time to load (i.e., draw on the map) due to the large size of the data.

ccs↗
NASA NTRS2015

Prognostics & Health Management: A NASA Perspective

How can advanced automation techniques developed by NASA to perform Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) in space missions be used here on Earth in the Oil & Gas industry? Whether on a Mars orbiter or an oil platform, having an intelligent machine to back up the crew/operators to help monitor and diagnose the systems for possible problems and aid in determining a corrective action/response is an important and useful attribute for multiple industries.

Boyer, Roger L.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Observations of VOC Emissions and Photochemical Products over US Oil- and Gas-Producing Regions Using High-Resolution H3O+ CIMS (PTR-ToF-MS)

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) related to oil and gas extraction operations in the United States were measured by H3O (sup plus) chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (H3O (sup plus) ToFCIMS/PTR-ToF-MS (Time of Flight Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry/Proton Transfer Reaction-Time of Flight-Mass Spectroscopy) from aircraft during the Shale Oil and Natural Gas Nexus (SONGNEX) campaign in March-April 2015. This work presents an overview of major VOC species measured in nine oil- and gas-producing regions, and a more detailed analysis of H3O (sup plus) ToF-CIMS measurements in the Permian Basin within Texas and New Mexico. Mass spectra are dominated by small photochemically produced oxygenates and compounds typically found in crude oil: aromatics, cyclic alkanes, and alkanes. Mixing ratios of aromatics were frequently as high as those measured downwind of large urban areas. In the Permian, the H3O (sup plus) ToF-CIMS measured a number of underexplored or previously unreported species, including aromatic and cycloalkane oxidation products, nitrogen heterocycles including pyrrole (C4H5N) and pyrroline (C4H7N), H2S, and a diamondoid (adamantane) or unusual monoterpene. We additionally assess the specificity of a number of ion masses resulting from H3O (sup plus) ion chemistry previously reported in the literature, including several new or alternate interpretations.

mass spectrometr↗
DOE OSTI2021

Findings from the NETL Well Integrity Workshop: Insights for multiple subsurface energy operations

Wells are a core aspect of subsurface energy infrastructure. Ensuring the resilience of that infrastructure relies on the integrity of wells as engineered pathways that safely extract, inject, and store fluids in the subsurface. To identify areas where focused research can yield new insights to improve integrity and extend the operational life of wells, the United States (US) Department of Energys (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) organized and hosted a workshop on well integrity research needs in May and June of 2021. The three-day workshop consisted of six technical sessions and 18 presentations from international well integrity experts on topics of geologic storage of carbon dioxide, natural gas, and hydrogen, as well as hydrocarbon and geothermal energy production. There were over 350 registrants from more than 10 countries, 4 major oil & gas companies, 14 US states, 8 US DOE National Laboratories, US Departments of Interior, Transportation, and Energy, and regulators from eight of ten US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regions and US EPA headquarters. Through presentations, moderated discussions, and an attendee survey several important areas for future research were identified. In this presentation, we highlight the findings of the NETL well integrity workshop and discuss future well integrity research needs.

carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Oil and Natural Gas Development near and beneath Uranium Tailings Cells and Other Remediated Sites - 20358

DOE LM is responsible for maintaining remedies at more than 50 remediated sites that require active long-term surveillance and maintenance (LTS and M). Institutional controls (ICs) were established to limit human and environmental exposures to residual contamination by controlling land use, restricting access to potential hazards, and making the public aware of potential dangers from the residual contamination. ICs for each site were developed based on current and foreseeable conditions; however, these controls should evolve to mitigate potential human health and other environmental risks from unanticipated changes in activities or site conditions. Activities conducted beyond the DOE long-term care boundaries by non-DOE parties may impact the effectiveness of ICs or even the long-term stability of disposal cells and groundwater remedies. Several sites that LM manages or that will transfer to LM for LTS and M are in active oil and gas production basins. The sites are associated with uranium ore milling or nuclear test sites and have been remediated or are in the process of remediation and have no ongoing DOE mission. Particularly since 2005, hydraulic fracturing ('fracking') combined with directional drilling has dramatically increased oil and natural gas (oil/gas) production in the United States, now making it the number one hydrocarbon-producing country. Fracking has allowed production from shale and other rocks of low natural permeability that were historically not considered viable oil/gas resources. Also, because wellbores can now be drilled as many as 5 kilometers or more horizontally, hydrocarbons can be recovered from zones without having access to the surface above them. Drilling activity near Rulison, Colorado, the location of an underground nuclear detonation managed by LM, has raised public concerns that remnant radioactivity in the detonation zone could migrate to producing wells and enter the natural gas distribution system. At sites like the Falls City, Texas, Disposal site, transitioned to LM with a split estate, increased production in the region has resulted in wellbores beneath the long-term care boundary of the site. While the DOE license for Falls City was approved by the NRC in 1997 without the acquisition of the subsurface rights, NRC has raised concerns on whether this activity impacts the integrity of the cell and/or groundwater remedies. In Wyoming, LM is anticipating receiving the license for the Bear Creek site and manages the Spook site, both locations of uranium mill tailings disposal cells. These Wyoming sites are in an active region of major oil and gas development. This change in surrounding land use will require LM to work collaboratively with NRC to address these concerns. At several DOE sites radioactive waste, and often intermixed nonradioactive constituents, is permanently isolated in engineered disposal cells. At other sites, residual contamination can be present in groundwater, blast cavities, and infinite amounts within soil. Areas targeted for oil and gas development at the Texas and Wyoming sites range from depths of 2440 to 3350 meters (8000-11000 feet) below ground surface. When most site remedies were designed, oil and gas development was not considered to be an issue within the site boundary. With the more recent uses of directional drilling, fracking, and associated wastewater injections, the evaluative criteria for incoming sites and ICs for managing long-term protectiveness and regulatory compliance are changing. Although DOE surface ownership was previously thought to be a robust IC to prevent surface and subsurface development, particularly at disposal sites, that may no longer be the case. Whereas the subsurface development at Texas and Wyoming sites is currently occurring at thousands of meters beneath the surface, shallower and direct onsite development would be more of a concern for LM. The energy introduced when a well is hydraulically fractured causes microseismic events (magnitude -2 to 1.0) as the fractures propagate but does not directly cause seismic events (earthquakes) of sufficient magnitude to damage surface structures. Additionally, the extent of the hydraulic fractures is limited to the targeted depths, which are far below the surface. However, earthquakes of sufficient magnitude to damage surface structures have been attributed to the injection of wastewater into disposal wells. States that have experienced these effects have enacted regulations that limit the rate and pressures that wastewater can be injected into disposal wells. Items LM may consider are the need for monitoring the volume of water injected into nearby disposal wells and possibly installing seismic stations at sites most susceptible to damage. While the need to demonstrate that no impact from oil and gas extraction activities on a site groundwater remedy or disposal cells will vary from site to site, LM is assessing risk criteria for this activity. Though LM has not experienced an issue yet at a uranium tailings disposal site, it cannot assume that there will be none, and must address NRC concerns. LM is building on past experiences at other sites and beginning to form new processes with the hope that these concepts can be applied for other future sites. (authors)

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

One-step transformation of biomass to fuel precursors using a bi-functional combination of Pd/C and water tolerant Lewis acid

Direct one-pot transformation of lignocellulosic biomass has been developed as an effective and sustainable strategy to produce fuel blend stocks and high value chemical building blocks. In this wok, a bi-functional catalyst system consisting of palladium supported on carbon (Pd/C) and metal triflates (i.e., Sm(OTf) 3 , La(OTf) 3 , and Cu(OTf) 2 ) were shown to promote the biomass liquefaction in both hot-compressed water and supercritical ethanol medium, converting fir wood into oxygenated compounds. We report the highest bio-oil yield from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) was 10.47 wt% over Pd/C whereas the highest bio-oil yield of 49.71 wt% was achieved from supercritical ethanol liquefaction (SCEL) over the bi-functional catalyst system of Pd/C and La(OTf) 3 . Higher heating values, carbon recovered values and boiling point distributions were further determined for elucidating the physical properties of the bio-oils. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of the bio-oils revealed the chemical composition of the bio-oils. Substituted phenols and cyclopentenone/cyclopentanone type compounds consisted of more than 60 area% of the total products from HTL, whereas phenol and esters represented the major products from SCEL. The major reaction pathways are proposed based on the GC–MS results, which include depolymerizaton, isomerization, dehydration, condensation, and hydrogenation.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Microwave-Assisted Dehydroaromatization of Flare Gas: Reactor Modeling, Plant-Wide Simulation and Economic Feasibility Analysis

Flaring is widely practiced in the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors to ensure safety during upsets and maintenance but emits large amounts of GHGs, causing energy and economic losses. In the U.S., about one-third of Bakken gas (~250 MMSCFD) and ~100 MMSCFD from Eagle Ford are flared. Recovering this gas is essential for sustainability. Existing recovery methods—compression and reinjection (EOR), conversion to NGL, LNG/CNG, GTL, and GTW—are often limited by flowrate, composition, and variability, especially in unconventional wells. This study develops a microwave-assisted dehydroaromatization (DHA) process to convert flare gas into benzene, toluene, ethylene, and naphthalene. A laboratory reactor model is scaled up into a modular plant-wide system. Techno-economic (TEA) and life-cycle (LCA) analyses evaluate performance and sustainability, with sensitivity studies on plant capacity, electricity cost, and catalyst price confirming strong economic potential.

dehydroaromatization↗
DOE OSTI2024

Liquid Fed Pyrolysis of Polyethylene Films: Environmental and Economic Assessments of Co-located and Remotely-Located U.S. Facilities

Polyethylene (PE) films are one of the highest production volume plastic products, but they have very low recycling rates. A novel liquid fed pyrolysis process (LFP) is an advanced recycling technology that can be applied to waste PE films. In this work, two environmental and six economic metrics were evaluated for the LFP process under different scenarios with a baseline production capacity of 8,400 Metric Tons (MT) of pyrolysis products/year. The studied scenarios considered process improvement such as heat integration, changing the final product yields, and location of the LFP process facility (i.e., co-located at a petrochemical facility or located remotely). Results show that producing refined pyrolysis wax in remote areas is the most environmentally favorable and profitable scenario. The LFP process co-located at a petrochemical facility and selling only liquid and gaseous pyrolysis products to the facility would require a capacity of >18,000 MT/year to be economically feasible. Heat integration led to greenhouse gas emission savings of at least 14%, 19%, and 32% for the pyrolysis oil, gas, and wax products, respectively. Fianlly, the LFP process in remote and less populated locations producing a high yield of refined wax may be a feasible solution for increasing recycling rates of PE films.

Advanced recycling↗
DOE OSTI2020

Gas Hydrate Saturation Estimation Form Acoustic Log Data in the 2018 Alaska North Slope Hydrate-01 Stratigraphic Test

Completed in December 2018, the Alaska North Slope Hydrate 01 stratigraphic test well provides a wealth of logging-while-drilling (LWD) data for strata to below the base of gas hydrate stability (BGHS). This well is intended to be the first of three wells drilled for a comprehensive long-term gas hydrate production test conducted by the National Energy Technology Laboratory, the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The Hydrate 01 stratigraphic test well confirmed the presence of gas hydrate in two sand reservoirs within the hydrate stability zone, indicating the suitability of this location for a long-term gas hydrate production test.<p>The USGS, using an effective-medium-theory rock-physics approach, has estimated gas hydrate saturations from compressional (P) and shear (S) wave log data acquired in the Hydrate 01 well. We assume that gas hydrate occurs as pore-filling load-bearing material (i.e., part of the grain matrix). For Unit D, approximately 500 feet above the BGHS, both P-wave and S-wave acoustic logs indicate moderate gas hydrate saturations with S-wave results slightly lower than those for P-waves. For the Unit B, located just above the BGHS, we obtain moderate to high gas hydrate saturation estimates from both sonic logs. Our P-wave saturation estimates agree well with results from electrical-resistivity-based estimates, whereas estimates from nuclear magnetic resonance LWD data generally suggest 5 to 10 percent higher saturations; our S-wave results suggest lower saturations. These differences likely indicate complexities in the form of gas hydrate occurrence within the sediment pore space, potentially including differences between hydrate occurrence in Units D and B.</p>

Haines, Seth↗