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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 OSTI2022

Modeling protected species distributions and habitats to inform siting and management of pioneering ocean industries: A case study for Gulf of Mexico aquaculture

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) provides a process that uses spatial data and models to evaluate environmental, social, economic, cultural, and management trade-offs when siting (i.e., strategically locating) ocean industries. Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food sector in the world. The United States (U.S.) has substantial opportunity for offshore aquaculture development given the size of its exclusive economic zone, habitat diversity, and variety of candidate species for cultivation. However, promising aquaculture areas overlap many protected species habitats. Aquaculture siting surveys, construction, operations, and decommissioning can alter protected species habitat and behavior. Additionally, aquaculture-associated vessel activity, underwater noise, and physical interactions between protected species and farms can increase the risk of injury and mortality. In 2020, the U.S. Gulf of Mexico was identified as one of the first regions to be evaluated for offshore aquaculture opportunities as directed by a Presidential Executive Order. We developed a transparent and repeatable method to identify aquaculture opportunity areas (AOAs) with the least conflict with protected species. First, we developed a generalized scoring approach for protected species that captures their vulnerability to adverse effects from anthropogenic activities using conservation status and demographic information. Next, we applied this approach to data layers for eight species listed under the Endangered Species Act, including five species of sea turtles, Rice’s whale, smalltooth sawfish, and giant manta ray. Next, we evaluated four methods for mathematically combining scores (i.e., Arithmetic mean, Geometric mean, Product, Lowest Scoring layer) to generate a combined protected species data layer. The Product approach provided the most logical ordering of, and the greatest contrast in, site suitability scores. Finally, we integrated the combined protected species data layer into a multi-criteria decision-making modeling framework for MSP. This process identified AOAs with reduced potential for protected species conflict. These modeling methods are transferable to other regions, to other sensitive or protected species, and for spatial planning for other ocean-uses.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1990

Monitoring of Ritz modal generation

A scheme is proposed to monitor the adequacy of a set of Ritz modes to represent a solution by comparing the quantity generated with certain properties involving the forcing function. In so doing an attempt was made to keep this algorithm lean and efficient, so that it will be economical to apply. Using this monitoring scheme during Ritz Mode generation will automatically ensure that the k Ritz modes theta k that are generated are adequate to represent both the spatial and temporal behavior of the structure when forced under the given transient condition defined by F(s,t).

Chargin, Mladen↗
DOE OSTI2025

Beyond Price Taker: Optimizing Integrated Energy Systems Considering Market/Grid Interactions

Integrated Energy Systems (IES) combine two or more processes to increase the efficiency, flexibility of operation, and the overall reliability. However, analyzing IESs in volatile electricity markets is challenging, since the volatility in electricity prices makes the conventional levelized cost-type analysis less realistic. This work presents two approaches to address the challenge: price-taker and a surrogates-based approach for incorporating market interactions. The price-taker approach formulates a multiperiod optimization problem that takes the time-varying electricity prices into account, and solves the optimization problem to determine the optimal operational schedule that maximizes the chosen economic metric. This approach is successfully applied to investigate the performance of flexible power and hydrogen co-production systems. The market surrogates approach trains a machine learning model to predict the market behavior as a function of the characteristics of the IES. The trained surrogate model is used to optimize the design and operation of the given IES in an electricity market. This approach is demonstrated on a case study involving a nuclear power plant retrofitted with a low-temperature electrolysis unit to co-produce power and hydrogen.

beyond price taker↗
DOE OSTI2023

Isotherm modeling and techno-economic analysis of a TSA moving bed process using a tetraamine-appended MOF for NGCC applications

Tetraamine-appended metal-organic frameworks (MOF) are a new family of amine-functionalized MOF materials that show potential for CO 2 capture from flue gas conditions relevant to natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plants. This work presents isotherm modeling of the tetraamine-appended MOF Mg 2 (dobpdc)(3-4-3)(dobpdc 4- =4,4'-dioxidobiphenyl-3,3'dicarboxylate;3-4-3=N,N'bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,4-diaminobutane), process modeling, scale up, and a techno-economic optimization of a moving bed Temperature Swing Adsorption (TSA) process for carbon capture using this sorbent. This MOF exhibits a unique two-step CO 2 adsorption profile in three different pressure ranges. Thus, arctangent-based logistic functions and, quadratic and Langmuir models were employed to represent such isotherm behavior. The results of the isotherm model show good fitting vs the experimental data with an RMSE of 0.41. Here, to model the carbon capture process, the isotherm model was embedded into a moving bed contactor model, and this was used to simulate a TSA CO 2 capture cycle and evaluate cost-optimal designs considering flue gas from a -650 MWe NGCC power plant. The capital cost model consists of CAPEX correlations for reactors, compressors, ducting, etc., while the operating costs include steam, water, chemicals, and electricity (following NETL's quality guidelines for energy systems studies). A techno-economic optimization of the capture system was performed by using NETL's Framework for the Optimization and Quantification of Uncertainty and Surrogates tool (FOQUS). Results suggest that a moving bed carbon capture system with tetraamine-appended MOF can be competitive compared to conventional MEA solvent-based capture processes for NGCC plants, when a heat recovery efficiency of at least 40% is achieved, and MOF materials can be produced at a cost below -$9/kg.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Predicting Thermochemical Equilibria with Interacting Defects: Sr 1 − x Ce x Mn O 3 − δ Alloys for Water Splitting

Solar thermochemical hydrogen is one of the few potential routes towards direct fuel production from renewable energy sources, but the thermodynamic boundary conditions for efficient and economic energy conversion are challenging. Success or failure of a given oxide working material depends on the subtle balance between enthalpy and entropy contributions in the redox processes. Developing a mechanistic understanding of the behavior of materials on the basis of atomistic models and first-principles calculations is an important part of advancing the technology. One challenge is to quantitatively predict thermochemical equilibria at high concentrations when the redox-active defects start to interact with each other, thereby impeding the formation of additional defects. This problem is of more general importance to applications that rely on high levels of off-stoichiometry or doping, including, for example, batteries, thermoelectrics, and ceramic fuel cells. To account for such repulsive defect interactions, we introduce a statistical mechanics approach, defining an expression for the free energy of defect interaction based on limited sampling of defect configurations in density functional theory supercell calculations. The parameterization of this energy contribution as a function of defect concentration and temperature allows on-the-fly simulation of thermochemical equilibria. The approach consistently incorporates finite temperature effects by including the leading contributions to the temperature-dependent free energy for the case at hand, i.e., the ideal gas and configurational enthalpies and entropies. We demonstrate the capability and utility of the approach by simulating the water splitting redox processes for Sr 1 − x Ce x Mn O 3 − δ alloys. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2026

EV Load Forecasting Guide: A Report by the Energy Systems Integration Group’s EV Load Forecasting Task Force

Forecasting electricity usage is a foundational planning activity for utilities, underpinning billions of dollars in grid investments that ensure system reliability. Historically, forecasting relied on trends in economic and population growth; however, transportation electrification presents a new and complex planning challenge. Unlike conventional loads, electric vehicle (EV) charging has relatively limited usage history. In addition, charging is driven by complex human behaviors, is mobile, and at the same time can concentrate geographically in ways that, without proper planning, can quickly overwhelm local distribution systems.

Giraldez, Julieta [Electric Power Engineers, Austi↗
DOE OSTI2025

Leveraging System Dynamics to Predict the Commercialization Success of Emerging Energy Technologies: Lessons from Wind Energy

The United States urgently needs to tackle the climate crisis while enhancing energy security and resiliency. The complexity of the U.S. energy system, with its interconnected elements, makes predicting future states challenging, especially with the introduction of novel energy systems like wind, solar, clean hydrogen, and advanced nuclear technologies. Modern systems engineering methods and tools can provide deeper insights into these dynamics and future behaviors. This research aims to develop a comprehensive model that captures the main elements and behaviors of new energy technologies within the existing energy system. We hypothesized that the market uptake of novel energy systems is influenced by multiple diverse factors, such as technological learning, availability of resources, and economic incentives; examined the history of electricity generation using land-based wind technologies; and developed a system dynamics model to investigate the relationships between capacity growth and influencing factors, both internal and external. The developed model yielded outcomes that confirmed the hypothesized dynamics of wind energy system diffusion through a quantitative comparison of installed capacity and highlighted the significant influence of resource availability, federal incentives (production tax credits), and technological learning on capacity growth and cost reduction. This research aims to support informed decision-making for investments in novel energy systems and aid in developing effective policies for technology deployment.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Advanced Downhole Acoustic Sensing for Wellbore Integrity (Final Report)

Borehole cement is used across the range of energy technologies to stabilize casing, to serve as a barrier to behind-casing fluid movement. Cement debonding and other flaws, both at cement interfaces and within the cement itself, can create leakage pathways that can threaten safety to personnel, and wellbore performance, with economic and regulatory consequences. A primary method to assess cement health and wellbore integrity is via acoustic methods. This project was designed with three aims: demonstrate a significant improvement in the interpretation of cement acoustic behavior, both during curing, and in interpreting effects of flaws and evolving interfaces; develop sensor technologies to improve signal-noise ratios and cement acoustic responses; and lastly, provide a borehole demonstration of at least one of these technologies. We have accomplished the first two objectives, and the third, delayed by pandemic health concerns, is proceeding as of this writing via a technology partner with the University of Texas Advanced Energy Consortium.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Depletion-driven thermochemistry of molten salt reactors: review, method, and analysis

Molten salt reactors (MSRs) are innovative advanced nuclear reactors that utilize nuclear fuel by dissolving it in a high-temperature liquid salt. This unique feature differentiates MSRs from other types of reactors and allows for enhanced safety and economic performance. The liquid fuel also entails several multiphysics effects that can complicate reactor design and operation. One primary effect termed here as depletion-driven thermochemistry is a driving force in altering the multiphysics behavior of the reactor. Essentially, depletion-driven thermochemistry is the effect that fuel depletion has on changing the chemical redox potential of the fuel salt over time. As the fuel is consumed, the redox potential shifts toward a more oxidizing state. Without active control, the changing chemistry due to depletion increases corrosion thereby limiting reactor component lifetimes. Additionally, the changing redox potential of the fuel salt alters the vapor pressures of chemical species dissolved in the fuel salt. Changing vapor pressures of species in the fuel salt is an important parameter to understand when off-gassing volatile species during normal reactor operation, and for source term characterization during accident scenario transients. The present work represents a fundamental step toward modeling and coupling the driving physics (i.e., neutronics and chemistry) involved in altering the redox potential in an MSR. Here, the neutronic code Griffin models the depletion of the fuel-salt system, while the chemical equilibrium code Thermochimica calculates the thermochemical state of the isotopic inventory, using the Molten Salt Thermodynamic Database - Thermochemical (MSTDB-TC). These two codes are tightly coupled to predict the impact of fuel depletion in altering the chemistry in MSR systems. Redox potential control methods are discussed and can be modeled using this multiphysics approach. The vapor pressures of chemical species that could be extracted to an off-gas system, as determined by the reactor’s thermochemical state, are examined. The neutronics-chemistry coupling developed in this work is expected to have potential application for analyzing corrosion, source term evolution, and material safeguards in MSR systems. Lastly, suggestions for areas of further improvements of the models to expand these capabilities by incorporating other coupled physics effects is provided.

Walker, Samuel A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Defect Structure of Beta NiAl Using the BFS Method for Alloys

The semiempirical BFS method for alloys is generalized by replacing experimental input with first-principles results thus allowing for the study of complex systems. In order to examine trends and behavior of a system in the vicinity of a given point of the phase diagram a search procedure based on a sampling of selected configurations is employed. This new approach is applied to the study of the beta phase of the Ni-Al system, which exists over a range of composition from 45-60 at.% Ni. This methodology results in a straightforward and economical way of reproducing and understanding the basic features of this system. At the stoichiometric composition, NiAl should exist in a perfectly ordered B2 structure. Ni-rich alloys are characterized by antisite point defects (with Ni atoms in the Al sites) with a decrease in lattice parameters. On the Al-rich side of stoichiometry there is a steep decrease in lattice parameter and density with increasing Al content. The presence of vacancies in Ni sites would explain such behavior. Recent X-ray diffraction experiments suggest a richer structure: the evidence, while strongly favoring the presence of vacancies in Ni sites, also suggests the possibility of some vacancies in Al sites in a 3:1 ratio. Moreover, local ordering of vacant sites may be preferred over a random distribution of individual point defects.

Bozzolo, Guillermo↗
DOE OSTI2024

Experimental Investigations into the Corrosion of Alloy 625 Using NaCl-PuCl3 Molten Salt in a Natural Circulation Microloop

Molten salt reactors (MSRs) can potentially revolutionize the nuclear industry by providing a path to a near-zero nuclear waste fuel cycle, contributing to more sustainable energy sources. As a plethora of MSR developers in the United States work toward an aggressive commercialization timeline, many of their fueled-salts—notably, chloride-based compositions—have limited operational testing with nuclear material. Licensing and operating these reactors require an understanding of corrosion effects on reactor materials of construction under operational conditions. The TerraPower Molten Chloride Fast Reactor (MCFR) is a liquid-fueled chloride-salt fast reactor which has received notable interest from the utility sector based on its desirable economic characteristics. The reactor operates at low pressure but does not require the use of highly reactive chemicals, leading to a reduced use of concrete and steel during construction. Additionally, liquid fuel allows for inherently stable behavior and natural circulation during a loss-of-site-power scenario. MCFR can be refueled while operating which makes it compatible with variable generation sources such as wind and solar. MCFR is a breed-and-burn in-situ reactor that does not implement any chemical processing or separations in the fuel cycle. Only mechanical filtration of noble metals and off-gassing of noble gases are utilized while the actinides stay mixed with the fuel at all times. The MCFR will require technology development to reach commercialization. With a breed-and-burn in-situ reactor like MCFR, the transmutation of fertile U-238 to fissile Pu-239 allows for much greater fuel utilization.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Storage-Induced Collapse of Lignin Macromolecular Structure and Its Impacts on the Biorefinery

Lignin plays a vital role in the economics of biorefineries, serving as a source of process energy and a feedstock for sustainable fuels and chemical production. While understanding lignin’s chemical composition is crucial, emerging evidence suggests that a more comprehensive understanding of its macromolecular structure is critical to explaining its complex behavior in the biorefinery. This study investigated the partial collapse of the lignin network in corn stover feedstock after harvest and storage as a result of the microbial digestion of hemicellulose. Fluorescence microscopy was used to detect the collapse of lignin in terms of lignin’s inter-molecular interaction and the re-orientation of lignin’s chromophores, by the changes in lignin’s fluorescence lifetime, anisotropy, and the number of effective emitters. With minimal sample perturbation, our in-situ microscopic results revealed lignin's coil-globule transition phenomena, which was only previously predicted by molecular dynamics modeling extracted lignin in solvent. This collapse of lignin macromolecular structure was confirmed by results from NMR, IR, Raman, and powder X-ray diffraction. We also investigated the impact of this storage-induced collapse on the downstream biorefinery processes. Our study revealed that the two major approaches for lignin valorization in the lignin-first biorefinery model, namely monomer extraction and milled wood lignin extraction, were negatively impacted by the lignin collapse. As changes during storage are a source of feedstock variability, our study highlights the importance of understanding the effect of feedstock handling on biorefinery operations and economics.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Isotherm, Kinetic, Process Modeling, and Techno-Economic Analysis of a Diamine-Appended Metal-Organic Framework for CO 2 Capture Using Fixed Bed Contactors

In this report, diamine-appended metal-organic frameworks exhibiting step-shaped CO 2 adsorption are exceptional candidates for energy-efficient carbon capture. However, there are few studies examining their performance in real-world capture scenarios, in part due to the challenge inherent in modeling their CO 2 uptake behavior. Here, we develop a dual-site Sips model to fit experimental CO 2 adsorption data for dmpn-Mg 2 (dobpdc) (dmpn = 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane; dobpdc 4- = 4,4'-dioxidobiphenyl-3,3'-dicarboxylate) and develop a linear driving force model for the adsorption kinetics based on available experimental data. These models are used to develop a dynamic, fixed bed, nonisothermal contactor model using shaped particles of the material, which is validated with experimental breakthrough data. We also examine the effects of the high heat of adsorption of the material on CO 2 uptake performance and find that heat removal is essential to maximize capture performance. We finally investigate "basic"(no bed cooling during adsorption) and "modified"(bed cooling during adsorption) temperature swing adsorption (TSA) processes using dmpn-Mg 2 (dobpdc), and their process economics are compared to a state-of-the-art monoethanolamine (MEA) capture system with and without heat recovery. In the absence of heat recovery, the adsorbent systems are more costly than established technology. However, with 85% heat recovery, both adsorbent-based TSA processes are projected to cost less than the MEA system. This work highlights that thermal management is vital for implementation of dmpn-Mg 2 (dobpdc) as a viable CO 2 capture technology. Investigation of other contactor technologies that can provide unique ways to manage system heat represent promising future areas of study.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

What Makes You Hold on to That Old Car? Joint Insights From Machine Learning and Multinomial Logit on Vehicle-Level Transaction Decisions

What makes you hold on to that old car? While the vast majority of household vehicles are still powered by conventional internal combustion engines, the progress of adopting emerging vehicle technologies will critically depend on how soon the existing vehicles are transacted out of the household fleet. Leveraging a nationally representative longitudinal data set, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, this study examines how household decisions to dispose of or replace a given vehicle are: 1) influenced by the vehicle’s attributes, 2) mediated by households’ concurrent socio-demographic and economic attributes, and 3) triggered by key life cycle events. Coupled with a newly developed machine learning interpretation tool, TreeExplainer, we demonstrate an innovative use of machine learning models to augment traditional logit modeling to both generate behavioral insights and improve model performance. We find the two gradient-boosting-based methods, CatBoost and LightGBM, are the best performing machine learning models for this problem. The multinomial logistic model can achieve similar performance levels after its model specification is informed by TreeExplainer. Both machine learning and multinomial logit models suggest that while older vehicles are more likely to be disposed of or replaced than newer ones, such probability decreases as the vehicles serve the family longer. Pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles are less likely to be disposed of or replaced than cars, and leased vehicles are more likely to be transacted than owned vehicles. We find that married families, families with higher education levels, homeowners, and older families tend to keep their vehicles longer. Life events such as childbirth, residential relocation, and change of household composition and income are found to increase vehicle disposal and/or replacement. We provide additional insights on the timing of vehicle replacement or disposal, in particular, the presence of children and childbirth events are more strongly associated with vehicle replacement among younger parents.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Topical Report – Findings on Subtask 2.7 – Wet ESP and Aerosol Testing at Coal Creek Station

Growing concerns over the impact of CO 2 emissions from combustion sources on global climate change have prompted numerous research and development projects aimed at developing cost-effective technologies for CO 2 capture. One family of technologies being demonstrated at pilot and full scale globally is postcombustion carbon capture (PCCC) systems that employ amine-based solvents. The captured CO 2 can be compressed and permanently stored underground or used for enhanced oil recovery. The proximity of North Dakota’s lignite-fired fleet of power plants to potential CO 2 storage options creates a unique atmosphere for PCCC within the state. However, the unique components present in lignite flue gas present a challenge for large-scale PCCC at North Dakota power plants by contributing to aerosol formation. Aerosols can negatively impact the long-term performance of amine-based solvents for CO 2 capture. Amine-based solvents are volatile, and flue gas particulate provides nucleation sites where amine vapors can condense as aerosols. Because aerosols cannot be easily captured at the column outlet using conventional technologies, the amine-laden aerosols escape the system and lead to accelerated solvent losses. Moreover, particulate components can chemically react with amines to form degradation products that can permanently deactivate the amine, cause fouling, and lead to hazardous emissions. Many of the elements that have been shown to catalyze solvent degradation are present in lignite coals and can exacerbate solvent replacement economics. Understanding this issue is critical to the implementation of solvent-based CO 2 capture systems as applied to lignite-fired generation systems. The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) designed and carried out this project to fully characterize aerosol behavior with various control technologies installed to better optimize aerosol mitigation technology for CO 2 capture. To meet the goal of this project, the following objectives were identified: Determine the effectiveness of a wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP) on mitigating formation of problematic aerosols at Great River Energy’s Coal Creek Station, upstream of the PCCC system. Determine the effectiveness of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) proprietary amine emission reduction unit (AERU) as a postcapture solvent recovery system for reducing aerosol emissions and extending solvent life downstream of the PCCC system. Determine the impact of aerosols on the efficiency and degradation products of both commercial and advanced solvents within the PCCC system. Work was conducted at Coal Creek Station Unit 1 using a slipstream of flue gas from the outlet of the plant’s flue gas desulfurization (FGD) unit. Flue gas was routed through a pilot-scale FGD unit to remove SO 2 to very low levels (~1 ppm) and then through a direct contact cooler (DCC) to further cool the gas and to remove moisture. The gas exiting the DCC was then optionally routed through a WESP before passing to the CO 2 absorber columns. The MHI solvent was used to scrub CO 2 from the slipstream through a set of two absorber columns. The rich solvent was regenerated in a stripper column by heating to drive off captured CO 2 . Flue gas exiting the absorber column was routed to MHI’s proprietary AERU to recover entrained solvent. The system operated using a catch-and-release method where the CO 2 was separated to provide data on the process, but the captured CO 2 was released back into the host site stack. Particulate was measured, collected, and analyzed from multiple locations throughout the pilot-scale system. Unlike the performance observed in prior work, the inlet FGD and DCC did not remove significant particulate matter from the flue gas. This appears to be due to a difference in the nature of the particulate. The DCC seemed to increase particulate size and count, most likely owing to water condensing onto the surfaces of fly ash particles. When the WESP was operated, it achieved >95% particulate capture. Very little particulate matter or indications of solvent were detected at the AERU outlet. When operating with advanced KS 21 solvent, the particulate material at the AERU outlet was even further decreased. Solvent analysis showed that some species derived from flue gas and ash were slowly concentrating in the solvent over the duration of the test. The levels observed were reported to be within expected ranges and were not of concern to MHI. A high-level techno-economic assessment of installing CO 2 capture at Coal Creek Station suggested that, when using a standard monoethanolamine (MEA)-based solution with simple heat integration, the energy penalty to net generation would be 34%. The bulk of this was due to steam losses for regenerating solvent, followed by parasitic electrical demand for CO 2 compression and then by increased parasitic load for pushing flue gas through the absorber column. These demands could be decreased with a more advanced solvent that exhibits lower heat of regeneration and lower pressure drop than does a simple MEA solution. Further energy could be saved with more thorough heat integration to recover useful energy from the steam used for solvent regeneration. Installing a WESP was predicted to increase the cost of electricity by nearly $5/MWh. This would become cost-effective if solvent losses were roughly 10 times the baseline estimate when not using a WESP but could be returned to baseline by installing the WESP. Piping CO 2 for storage in more favorable geology could help with carbon capture and storage economics. Although storing off-site would necessitate construction of a CO 2 transport pipeline, the cost of this pipeline might be more than offset by reducing the number of wells required, the depths of the wells required, and the electrical demand for the CO 2 compressor. Additional factors that favor off-site storage costs include smaller expected CO 2 plume sizes, which translates to less monitoring and fewer landowner agreements. More detailed assessment of the specific geology in the region under and around Coal Creek Station would be needed to accurately assess the costs and benefits of different storage site options. This subtask was cofunded through the Energy & Environmental Research Center–U.S. Department of Energy Joint Program on Research and Development for Fossil Energy-Related Resources Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FE0024233. Nonfederal funding was provided by the North Dakota Industrial Commission.

Strege, Joshua↗
DOE OSTI2022

Tuscaloosa Marine Shale Laboratory

The Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) in Louisiana and Mississippi is an Upper Cretaceous source rock formation sandwiched between the sands of the upper and lower Tuscaloosa sections. The TMS is believed to be the source rock for underlying prolific Tuscaloosa sand formation. The TMS has an unproven estimate of 7,000,000,000 bbls of recoverable oil while its current total average production is about 3,000 bbls of oil per day in 2017. In 2013 and 2014, more than 80 wells were drilled horizontally into the TMS that were fractured using multi-stage fracturing technology. The results from this have been mixed, but recent production for several wells show an appealing initial oil production rate of more than 1000 bbl/day. The preliminary core analysis by industry partners and a few literature studies shows that the TMS is one of the most clay-rich and sensitive shales to water. Due to these and other technical problems, there is high risk for the economic development of TMS compared to other shale plays. The experiences of major industrial players in the TMS show the necessity of open and collaborative efforts to better understand the critical gaps in the development of this challenging and potentially highly economic shale play to enable more cost-efficient and environmentally-sound recovery from this unconventional liquid-rich shale play. The overall objective of this project is to form a consortium of science and industry partners to address the following six major objectives using scientific and technical approaches: 1. To improve wellbore integrity by better understanding the sources of the wellbore instability issues, proposing innovative mud and cement design for the TMS. 2. To improve formation evaluation using laboratory techniques for the evaluation of mineralogical composition, organic content, and produced-water chemistry as well as well log and geophysical analysis. 3. To determine the role of geologic discontinuities on fracture growth and shale creep behavior using digital image correlation technique. 4. To investigate the application of stable CO 2 foam and super-hydrophobic proppants for improved reservoir stimulation. 5. To better understand the nature of water/hydrocarbon/CO 2 flow in clay and organic-rich formation and the role of water/fluid interaction on recovery. 6. To prepare better socio-economic environment for TMS development by community engagement. Subsequently, the TMS virtual laboratory conducted testing and analysis of various properties of rock and formation fluids from the TMS, including but not limited to the following: Analyzing reports and logs to better understand the source of wellbore instability in TMS wells; Experiments to design a customized cement based on TMS requirements; Experiments to obtain the mineralogical and geochemical composition of TMS samples; Seismic analysis of TMS geophysical data to better predict total organic carbon (TOC) content and brittleness in TMS; Well log analysis to better estimate the TOC and geo-mechanical properties of TMS; Experiments on formation water to understand the chemistry of produced water; Experiments to determine the role of lamination and natural fractures on fracture propagation or rock deformation using digital image correlation technique in in-direct tensile tests, semi-circular bend test and creep tests Experiments to determine the stability and rheological properties of nanoparticle-stabilized CO 2 foam in TMS rock samples; Experiments to determine fluid dynamics in un-propped TMS fractures and the role of nano-coating of proppants on fluid dynamics in fractures with proppants; Micro-fluidics experiments to enhance the understanding of fluid dynamics in tight liquidrich pores with high clay content; Socio-economic studies to better engage communities in TMS development.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗