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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

A Viable Path Forward to Carbon Capture and Storage in Wyoming, USA

The State of Wyoming, USA, benefits from favorable geologic, regulatory, and infrastructure attributes that promote efficient and sustainable carbon capture and storage (CCS). Two research sites in Wyoming exhibit high potential for the underground geologic storage of greater than 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) over 25 years. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Carbon Storage Assurance and Facility Enterprise (DOE CarbonSAFE) Phase I prefeasibility initiative, studies of both sites indicate promising capture, transport, utilization, and storage characteristics. The Dry Fork site is located near Gillette, in northeast Wyoming. Four storage reservoir/seal pairs have been identified at the Dry Fork site that provide excellent prospects for stacked storage of CO 2 . All four reservoirs lie at sufficient depths to maintain supercritical CO 2 and all four seals exhibit favorable characteristics for stratigraphic confinement. The reservoir with the highest expected significance is the Pennsylvanian/Permian Minnelusa Formation, which consists of near-shore dunes and shoreline sands, as well as shale and carbonate layers. The Minnelusa resides at a depth of ~2,900 m below the land surface and is ~45 m thick in the study area. Average porosity for samples from core within 10 km of the study area is 9%, with permeability values as high as 169 mD (n=6). The Permian Opeche Formation seals the Minnelusa and consists of redbed shales with minor fine-grained siltstones and evaporite deposits. Entry pressures as high as ~4700 psia were measured by mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) analysis on core samples from the Opeche. A CarbonSAFE Phase II feasibility proposal at the Dry Fork site has recently been selected by DOE for negotiation leading to award. The second proposed site is located at the Rock Springs Uplift (RSU) in southwest Wyoming. Four reservoir/seal pairs have been studied at the RSU, all of which present promising geologic attributes for the stacked storage of CO 2 . The two deepest reservoirs (Mississippian Madison Limestone and Pennsylvanian/Permian Weber Formation) and their seals were studied previously under the auspices of the Wyoming Carbon Underground Storage Project (WY-CUSP), which was funded by DOE and the State of Wyoming. For the more recent CarbonSAFE initiative, two shallower reservoir/seal pairs were studied in detail. The highest priority of these reservoirs is the Triassic/Jurassic Nugget Formation, which consists of eolian sands and minor fluvial and interdune deposits. The Nugget lies at a depth of ~2,800 m and is ~140 m thick in the study area. Average measured porosity for samples from core within 40 km of the study site is 9%, with permeability values as high as 91 mD (n=10). The Nugget is sealed by the overlying Jurassic Gypsum Spring and Morrison Formations, as well as a thick (~1,700 m) regional Upper Cretaceous seal that includes shales from multiple geologic units. Entry pressures as high as 1120 psia were measured by MICP for shales within this regional confining unit. Overall, the State of Wyoming provides an advantageous climate to develop sustainable integrated CCS projects based on the following considerations: (1) well-characterized and favorable geology; (2) some of the largest deposits of economically recoverable coal in the USA; (3) an existing CO 2 -enhanced oil recovery industry, including CO 2 pipeline infrastructure; (4) supportive commercial enterprises, including utilities and the oil and gas industry; (5) supportive policymakers; (6) a favorable legal and regulatory environment; (7) proximity to carbon-constrained markets such as the State of California; (8) large CO 2 emission sources, including coal-fired power plants; and (9) backing for carbon capture, storage, and management related research and development, specifically implementation of the Integrated Test Center at Dry Fork Station, which is hosting the coal-track of the NRG/COSIA Carbon XPrize® competition.

Phillips, Erin↗
DOE OSTI2015

Influence of wettability and permeability heterogeneity on miscible CO 2 flooding efficiency

CO 2 flooding is a proven enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique and is also considered as a potential method for CO 2 sequestration. Despite having successful field trials on CO 2 EOR, the effects of reservoir wettability and permeability heterogeneity on the efficiency of miscible CO 2 flooding are not well understood. In this work, laboratory investigations have been carried out to evaluate the influence of these properties on the miscible CO 2 EOR performance. The wettability of hydrophilic Berea core samples was altered to be oil-wet by vacuum saturation of the clean and dry core samples with n-hexadecane. The permeability heterogeneity was obtained by combining two half pieces of axially split water-wet core samples of different permeabilities. Core flooding experiments were conducted for n-hexadecane - synthetic brine - CO 2 systems at 1400 psig backpressure to achieve minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) of CO 2 in n-hexadecane at the test temperature (24 ± 1 °C). It was found that wettability strongly influences CO 2 EOR. For the alternate cases of previously brine flooded (to remaining oil saturation) oil-wet and water-wet core samples, five pore volumes (PVs) of CO 2 recovered 100% and only 43% of remaining oil in place (ROIP) respectively. Three PVs of CO 2 could recover only about 0-5% ROIP from the split core samples. The mechanisms underlying these results are discussed. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the significant influence of reservoir wettability and permeability heterogeneity on the performance of miscible CO 2 EOR.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2016

Induced polarization of volcanic rocks. 2. Influence of pore size and permeability

We investigate the relationship between complex conductivity spectra and both permeability and pore mean size and distribution of 22 core samples (21 volcanic rocks and 1 clayey sandstone). The volcanic core samples were extracted from a wellbore drilled for the Humu‘ula Groundwater Research Project in the Humu‘ula saddle region between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes (Hawaii). The quadrature conductivity spectra of volcanic rocks exhibit a subtle, but generally detectable, relaxation frequency in the range 0.3 Hz to 45 kHz similar to the relaxation frequency observed for clayey sandstones. We find a fair relationship between this relaxation frequency and the pore size determined by mercury porosimetry. Combined with the intrinsic formation factor of the core samples, the relaxation frequency can be used as an indicator of the permeability of the material. The predicted values of the permeability are grossly consistent with the permeability values to air (in the range 0.001–100 mD) within two orders of magnitude. The measured permeability values are highly correlated to the peak of the pore size distribution determined from mercury porosimetry divided by the intrinsic formation factor. By fitting the complex conductivity spectra with the pore size distribution, we obtain the normalized chargeability of the core samples, which is, in turn, highly correlated to the measured cation exchange capacity.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Characterization Data Package for Containerized Sludge Samples Collected from Engineered Container SCS-CON-210

This data package contains the K Basin sludge characterization results obtained by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory during processing and analysis of four sludge core samples collected from Engineered Container SCS-CON-210 in 2010 as requested by CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company. Sample processing requirements, analytes of interest, detection limits, and quality control sample requirements are defined in the KBC-33786, Rev. 2. The core processing scope included reconstitution of a sludge core sample distributed among four to six 4-L polypropylene bottles into a single container. The reconstituted core sample was then mixed and subsampled to support a variety of characterization activities. Additional core sludge subsamples were combined to prepare a container composite. The container composite was fractionated by wet sieving through a 2,000 micron mesh and a 500-micron mesh sieve. Each sieve fraction was sampled to support a suite of analyses. The core composite analysis scope included density determination, radioisotope analysis, and metals analysis, including the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Hazardous Waste Facility Permit metals (with the exception of mercury). The container composite analysis included most of the core composite analysis scope plus particle size distribution, particle density, rheology, and crystalline phase identification. A summary of the received samples, core sample reconstitution and subsampling activities, container composite preparation and subsampling activities, physical properties, and analytical results are presented. Supporting data and documentation are provided in the appendices. There were no cases of sample or data loss and all of the available samples and data are reported as required by the Quality Assurance Project Plan/Sampling and Analysis Plan.

core sampling↗
DOE OSTI2014

Carbon Dioxide Sealing Capacity: Textural or Compositional Controls? (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

This research project is aiming to assess the carbon dioxide sealing capacity of most common seal-rocks, such as shales and non-fractured limestones, by analyzing the role of textural and compositional parameters of those rocks. We hypothesize that sealing capacity is controlled by textural and/or compositional parameters of caprocks. In this research, we seek to evaluate the importance of textural and compositional parameters affecting the sealing capacity of caprocks. The conceptual framework involves two testable end-member hypotheses concerning the sealing capacity of carbon dioxide reservoir caprocks. Better understanding of the elements controlling sealing quality will advance our knowledge regarding the sealing capacity of shales and carbonates. Due to relatively low permeability, shale and non-fractured carbonate units are considered relatively impermeable formations which can retard reservoir fluid flow by forming high capillary pressure. Similarly, these unites can constitute reliable seals for carbon dioxide capture and sequestration purposes. This project is a part of the comprehensive project with the final aim of studying the caprock sealing properties and the relationship between microscopic and macroscopic characteristics of seal rocks in depleted gas fields of Oklahoma Panhandle. Through this study we examined various seal rock characteristics to infer about their respective effects on sealing capacity in special case of replacing reservoir fluid with super critical carbon dioxide (scCO 2 ). To assess the effect of textural and compositional properties on scCO 2 maximum retention column height we collected 30 representative core samples in caprock formations in three counties (Cimarron, Texas, Beaver) in Oklahoma Panhandle. Core samples were collected from various seal formations (e.g., Cherokee, Keys, Morrowan) at different depths. We studied the compositional and textural properties of the core samples using several techniques. Mercury Injection Porosimetry (MIP), Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM, and Sedigraph measurements are used to assess the pore-throat-size distribution, sorting, texture, and grain size of the samples. Also, displacement pressure at 10% mercury saturation (Pd) and graphically derived threshold pressure (P c ) were determined by MIP technique. SEM images were used for qualitative study of the minerals and pores texture of the core samples. Moreover, EDS (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer), BET specific surface area, and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) measurements were performed to study various parameters and their possible effects on sealing capacity of the samples. We found that shales have the relatively higher average sealing threshold pressure (P c ) than carbonate and sandstone samples. Based on these observations, shale formations could be considered as a promising caprock in terms of retarding scCO 2 flow and leakage into above formations. We hypothesized that certain characteristics of shales (e.g., 3 fine pore size, pore size distribution, high specific surface area, and strong physical chemical interaction between wetting phase and mineral surface) make them an efficient caprock for sealing super critical CO 2 . We found that the displacement pressure at 10% mercury saturation could not be the ultimate representative of the sealing capacity of the rock sample. On the other hand, we believe that graphical method, introduced by Cranganu (2004) is a better indicator of the true sealing capacity. Based on statistical analysis of our samples from Oklahoma Panhandle we assessed the effects of each group of properties (textural and compositional) on maximum supercritical CO 2 height that can be hold by the caprock. We conclude that there is a relatively strong positive relationship (+.40 to +.69) between supercritical CO 2 column height based on P c and hard/ soft mineral content index (ratio of minerals with Mohs hardness more than 5 over minerals with Mohs hardness less than 5) in both shales and limestone samples. Average median pore radius and porosity display a strong negative correlation with supercritical CO 2 retention column height. Also, increasing bulk density is positively correlated with the supercritical CO 2 retention column height. One of the most important factors affecting sealing capacity and consequently the height of supercritical CO 2 column is sorting of the pore throats. We observed a strong positive correlation between pore throat sorting and height of CO 2 retention column, especially in shales. This correlation could not be observed in limestone samples. It suggests that the pore throat sorting is more controlling the sealing capacity in shales and shales with well sorted pore throats are the most reliable lithology as seal. We observed that Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area shows a very strong correlation with CO 2 retention column height in limestone samples while BET surface area did not display significant correlation in shales. Pore structure based on SEM micrographs exhibits strong correlation with CO 2 retention column height in limestones. Both intercrystalline and vuggy structures have negative correlations while intergranular texture has positive correlation in limestone with respect to CO 2 retention column height. Textural effects observed on SEM micrographs did not show statistically significant correlation with supercritical CO 2 retention column height in shale samples. Finally, we showed that increasing hard/soft mineral index is strongly correlated with the displacement pressure in limestone samples. Vuggy texture displays a relatively strong and negative correlation with displacement pressure values at 10% mercury saturation in shale samples.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Characterization of basin concrete in support of structural integrity demonstration for extended storage

Concrete core samples from C basin were characterized through material testing and analysis to verify the design inputs for structural analysis of the L Basin and to evaluate the type and extent of changes in the material condition of the concrete under extended service for fuel storage. To avoid the impact on operations, core samples were not collected from L area, but rather, several concrete core samples were taken from the C Basin prior to its closure. C basin was selected due to its similar environmental exposure and service history compared to L Basin. The microstructure and chemical composition of the concrete exposed to the water was profiled from the water surface into the wall to evaluate the impact and extent of exposure. No significant leaching of concrete components was observed. Ingress of carbonation or deleterious species was determined to be insignificant. No evidence of alkali-silica reactions (ASR) was observed. Ettringite was observed to form throughout the structure (in air voids or pores); however, the sulfur content was measured to be consistent with the initial concrete that was used to construct the facility. Similar ettringite trends were observed in the interior segments of the core samples. The compressive strength of the concrete at the mid-wall of the basin was measured, and similar microstructural analysis was conducted on these materials post compression testing. The microstructure was determined to be similar to near-surface segments of the core samples. The average strength was 4148 psi, which is well-above the design strength of 2500 psi. The analyses showed that phase alterations and minor cracking in a microstructure did not affect the design specification for the concrete.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2024

Correlative X-ray micro-nanotomography with scanning electron microscopy at the Advanced Light Source

Geological samples are inherently multi-scale. Understanding their bulk physical and chemical properties requires characterization down to the nano-scale. A powerful technique to study the three-dimensional microstructure is X-ray tomography, but it lacks information about the chemistry of samples. To develop a methodology for measuring the multi-scale 3D microstructure of geological samples, correlative X-ray micro- and nanotomography were performed on two rocks followed by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis. The study was performed in five steps: (i) micro X-ray tomography was performed on rock sample cores, (ii) samples for nanotomography were prepared using laser milling, (iii) nanotomography was performed on the milled sub-samples, (iv) samples were mounted and polished for SEM analysis and (v) SEM imaging and compositional mapping was performed on micro and nanotomography samples for complimentary information. Correlative study performed on samples of serpentine and basalt revealed multiscale 3D structures involving both solid mineral phases and pore networks. Significant differences in the volume fraction of pores and mineral phases were also observed dependent on the imaging spatial resolution employed. This highlights the necessity for the application of such a multiscale approach for the characterization of complex aggregates such as rocks. Information acquired from the chemical mapping of different phases was also helpful in segmentation of phases that did not exhibit significant contrast in X-ray imaging. Adoption of the protocol used in this study can be broadly applied to 3D imaging studies being performed at the Advanced Light Source and other user facilities.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Data Summary Report for Soil and Slab Sampling at Former Building 175

Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are in the process of returning the area where Building 175 existed to beneficial use for future site development. The completed assessment will help LLNS and DOE to outline project scope and costs associated with the removal, characterization, and disposal of materials generated when the concrete slab for the former building and any associated remaining subsurface structures are demolished. Slab removal under the Transition & Disposition process requires full screening for potential site contamination to determine appropriate future land use. Borehole locations and depths were designed to correctly assess DOE’s future liability for characterizing residual vadose zone contamination. If a residual source area is identified at depth, DOE will need to evaluate the additional cost of future subsurface cleanup (with limited access) due to planned development. This is necessary to leave the location in a “ready-to-build” status. As a result, Phase II sampling requirements may in some cases extend beyond the construction zone required for slab removal to ensure the necessary due diligence. To avoid the potential spread of contamination and/or the creation of an environmental release by impacting the integrity of known contamination areas (e.g., pit within room 102 and the east to west boundary seam), these locations were not sampled for this project. During demolition of the slab, these locations and their underlying soils should be further evaluated. The assessment was conducted in accord with the May 2022 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Former Building 175 Assessment Soil Sampling and Analysis Plan / Quality Assurance Plan. Thirty-six, direct-push borings were advanced, along with collecting concrete (where present) and soil samples for laboratory analyses. Thirty-two of the borings were advanced to a depth of 25 feet below ground (bgs), and four borings were advanced to a depth of 55 feet bgs. The concrete slab for former Building 175 ranged from approximately 8 inches to over two feet in thickness. Soils encountered during the investigation consisted primarily of clayey silt, with interbeds of sandy gravel and silty sand to the total depth explored of 55 feet bgs. Field photoionization detector readings – checking for volatile organic compound (VOC) vapors in soils, ranged from zero (0) to a peak of 33 parts per million at 25 feet bgs in boring PC-B175- 028. The cause for the peak reading is unknown, however, no visually discolored or odorous soils were encountered during the assessment and all VOC results were below Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL’s) Soil Screening and Management Plan (SSMP) soil screening levels (SSL). Groundwater was not encountered during the assessment and is expected to occur at roughly 65 feet bgs in the project area. No metals were detected at concentrations of concern in the concrete core samples collected and analyzed. Low gross alpha and beta activity concentrations were detected in the concrete core samples collected and analyzed. The detected activity concentrations would appear to be from naturally occurring radioactive isotopes, i.e., potassium 40, present in the raw materials used to make concrete and not artificially added. Tritium was not detected above the testing laboratory's Method Detection Limit (MDL) in any of the concrete core samples collected and analyzed. The radioactive isotopes - actinium 228, bismuth 214, lead 212, lead 214, potassium 40, radium 226, radium 228, and thallium 208, were detected at low activity concentrations in the concrete core samples analyzed. Based on the detected activity concentrations, the isotopes would appear to be naturally occurring in the raw materials used to make concrete and not artificially added. Acetone – a common laboratory contaminant, was detected in nine of the soil samples collected and analyzed. Concentrations of two other volatile organic compounds (benzene and tetrachloroethene) were detected in five of the soil samples analyzed. All concentrations were below SSLs. Total petroleum hydrocarbons as diesel range organics were detected at 43.9 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) in the 20-foot bgs duplicate sample from boring PC-B175-007. Total petroleum hydrocarbons as motor oil were detected at 7.20 mg/kg in the 15-foot bgs routine sample from boring PC-B175-001, and at 20.7 mg/kg in the 20-foot bgs duplicate sample from boring PC-B175-007. The SSL for diesel-range TPHs is 260 mg/kg. LLNL does not have an SSL for motor oil range TPHs. No indications of a release, e.g., visibly stained, or odorous soil, were present at the boring locations. No samples collected contained polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in concentrations above the laboratory reporting limit. Arsenic was detected above its SSL of 8.51 mg/kg in the 25-foot bgs routine sample collected from boring PC-B175-023. Nickel was detected above its SSL of 86.0 mg/kg in the 10-foot bgs routine sample from boing PC-B175-005, the 20-foot bgs routine sample from boring PC-B175-025, and the 25-foot bgs routine sample from boring PC-B175-034. The detected concentrations, however, were well below ten times (10x) their respective STLCs. Gross alpha and/or gross beta were detected above their respective SSL activity concentrations in three routine soil samples. Retesting (two per sample) of the samples showed that the initial reported activity concentrations were anomalous. Tritium was not detected in any of the routine or duplicate soil samples collected and analyzed during the investigation. The radioactive isotopes - actinium 228, bismuth 212 and 214, lead 212 and 214, potassium 40, radium 224, 226 and 228, thallium 208, thorium 234 and uranium, were detected at low activity concentrations in the soil samples analyzed for radioactive constituents. The detected isotopes and their associated activity concentrations are typical of those naturally occurring in the marine-type sedimentary deposits underlying the Livermore Valley. No radiological controls are necessary for the soil evaluated.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Tree Ring Chronology Indexes and Reconstructions of Precipitation in Central Iowa, USA (1984) (NDP-002)

Tree core samples (4 mm in diameter) were extracted from the trunks of white oak (Quercus alba) at three sites in central Iowa (Duvick Back Woods, Ledges State Park, and Pammel). At least 60 trees were sampled at each site, and at least two cores were taken from each tree. The growth rings of each core were dated by calendar year and measured; the measurements were then transformed into dimensionless ring-width indices and correlated with annual precipitation. Data were collected for the years 1680 through 1979. Each tree ring was characterized by the site, year, tree-ring-width index, number of core samples, decade year, and the annual reconstructed precipitation estimate. These data have more than 50% of their variance in common with the known annual statewide average precipitation for Iowa and serve as useful indicators of the precipitation and drought history of the region for the past 300 years. The data are in two files: tree-ring-chronology data (8 kB) and the annual reconstructed precipitation data for central Iowa (2 kB).For access to the data files, click this link to the CDIAC data transition website: http://cdiac.ess-dive.lbl.gov/ndps/ndp002.html

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Stress-sensitivity of fracture conductivity of Tuscaloosa Marine Shale cores

Production decline from wells producing from shale rocks is typically quite rapid. One possible factor responsible for such decline is loss in fracture conductivity. This is true in the case of the Tuscaloosa Marine shale reservoir. In this work, the stress-dependent fracture conductivity of TMS core samples is investigated using five propped cores under varying stress conditions. In addition, the effects of static rock mechanical properties and rock mineralogy on conductivity decline are investigated. The mineralogy of each core sample was determined by X-ray Diffraction analysis. Fracture conductivity was measured using a Hassler-type pressure core holder with a pressure rating of 15,000 psi (103.42 MPa). Estimated rock mechanical properties showed that shale anisotropy could affect fracture conductivity. The time decline in conductivity revealed two possible decline trends, a) decline from the reduction in induced fracture width, and b) decline from the healing of developed micro-cracks. An exponential decline in fracture conductivity with increasing confinement pressure was observed with an average decline rate constant of 3.15 x 10 -10 mPa -1 . While rock mineralogy did not have any clear relationship with conductivity decline, the effects of rock mechanical properties were only important at 10.34 MPa confinement pressure and above. The observation showed that a high Young's modulus correlate to high conductivity, whereas a high Poisson's ratio correlate to low conductivity. This study provides useful observations for optimizing fracture design to enhance well productivity in the TMS.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2017

Alteration of volcanic rocks: A new non-intrusive indicator based on induced polarization measurements

Induced polarization is a geophysical method investigating the ability of rocks to store reversibly electrical charges under a slowly alternating electrical field. The material property of interest is a complex-valued electrical conductivity with an in-phase component associated with conduction and a quadrature component associated with polarization. Here we investigated the relationship between complex conductivity spectra over the frequency range 1 mHz–45 kHz and the specific surface area (SSA) of 28 volcanic core samples extracted from a wellbore drilled for the Humu'ula Groundwater Research Project in Hawaii. The specific surface area of these samples was determined through the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) method. Subcritical nitrogen adsorption experiments were conducted using two different instruments and the samples were prepared in both pellets and powder forms. The BET specific surface area is found to be highly correlated to the cation exchange capacity of the core samples measured by the cobalthexamine method. The in-phase conductivity itself can be decomposed as the sum of a bulk contribution associated with conduction in the bulk pore water and a surface conductivity associated with conduction in the electrical double layer coating the grains. The surface conductivity, the quadrature conductivity, and the normalized chargeability (defined as the difference between the in-phase conductivity at high and low frequencies) are observed to be linearly correlated to the specific surface area or the surface per volume ratio of the core samples, which can be considered as proxy of alteration. These trends are consistent with those shown by sedimentary rocks. This new data set demonstrates that the induced polarization method can be potentially used to image alteration in volcanic environments.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

A rock physics and seismic reservoir characterization study of the Rock Springs Uplift, a carbon dioxide sequestration site in Southwestern Wyoming

We present a reservoir geophysics study, including rock physics modeling and seismic inversion, of a carbon dioxide sequestration site in Southwestern Wyoming, namely the Rock Springs Uplift, and build a petrophysical model for the potential injection reservoirs for carbon dioxide sequestration. Our objectives include the facies classification and the estimation of the spatial model of porosity and permeability for two sequestration targets of interest, the Madison Limestone and the Weber Sandstone. The available dataset includes a complete set of well logs at the location of the borehole available in the area, a set of 110 core samples, and a seismic survey acquired in the area around the well. The proposed study includes a formation evaluation analysis and facies classification at the well location, the calibration of a rock physics model to link petrophysical properties and elastic attributes using well log data and core samples, the elastic inversion of the pre-stack seismic data, and the estimation of the reservoir model of facies, porosity and permeability conditioned by seismic inverted elastic attributes and well log data. In particular, the rock physics relations are facies-dependent and include granular media equations for clean and shaley sandstone, and inclusion models for the dolomitized limestone. The permeability model has been computed by applying a facies-dependent porosity-permeability relation calibrated using core sample measurements. Finally, the study shows that both formations show good storage capabilities. The Madison Limestone includes a homogeneous layer of high-porosity high-permeability dolomite; the Weber Sandstone is characterized by a lower average porosity but the layer is thicker than the Madison Limestone.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Experimental study of compaction localization in carbonate rock and constitutive modeling of mechanical anisotropy

Abstract Sedimentary rocks are inherently anisotropic and prone to strain localization. While the influence of rock anisotropy on the brittle/dilative regime has been studied extensively, its influence on the ductile/compactive regime is much less explored. This paper discusses the anisotropic behavior of a high‐porosity carbonate rock from central Europe (the Maastricht Tuffeau). A set of triaxial tests with concurrent x‐ray tomography has been performed at different confining pressures. The anisotropic characteristics of this rock have been investigated by testing samples cored at different inclinations of the bedding, thus revealing non‐negligible effects of the coring direction on yielding and compaction behavior. Specifically, samples cored perpendicular to bedding display higher strength and longer stages of post‐yielding deformation before manifesting re‐hardening. Despite such alterations of the inelastic response, Digital Image Correlation has revealed that the strain localization mode is independent of the coring direction, thus being primarily affected by the confinement level. To capture the observed interaction between material anisotropy and compaction behavior at the continuum‐scale, an elastoplastic constitutive law has been proposed. For this purpose, a set of tensorial bases has been introduced to replicate how the oriented rock fabric modulates the yielding and plastic flow characteristics of the material. The analyses show that the impact of the coring direction on yield function and plastic flow rule is fundamentally different, thus requiring the use of distinct projection strategies (a strategy here defined heterotopic mapping). The performance of the model, studied through parametric analyses and by calibrating the experimental results, illustrates the improved capability of the proposed constitutive approach when applied to strongly anisotropic porous rocks.

Shahin, Ghassan↗
DOE OSTI2015

Snake River Plain FORGE: Well Data for USGS-142

Well data for the USGS-142 well located in eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho. This data collection includes lithology reports, borehole logs, and photos of rhyolite core samples. This collection of data has been assembled as part of the site characterization data used to develop the conceptual geologic model for the Snake River Plain site in Idaho, as part of phase 1 of the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) initiative. They were assembled by the Snake River Geothermal Consortium (SRGC), a team of collaborators that includes members from national laboratories, universities, industry, and federal agencies, lead by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Predicting uniaxial compressive strength from empirical relationships between ultrasonic p-wave velocities, porosity, and core measurements in a potential geothermal reservoir, Snake River Plain, Idaho

Empirical, core-based, predictive correlations for the calculation of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) were developed from compressive sonic velocity measurements (55 whole core samples) and porosity, density, and unconfined compressive tests (110 whole core samples). The samples were collected at 55 different depths in a 550 m (1800 ft) interval of core from the MH-2 borehole located in southern Idaho, USA. The western Snake River Plain is a known region of high heat flow and the borehole was drilled into a potential geothermal reservoir characterized by artesian flow of high-temperature (~140°C) fluids from fractured basalt. UCS was measured in unconfined compressive tests, density and porosity were measured using a He-pycnometer, and p-wave velocities were measured in a pressure vessel under variable confining pressures. We use correlations between density and p-wave velocity (R 2 = 0.91), UCS and porosity (R 2 = 0.78), and UCS and p-wave velocity (R 2 = 0.79) in a method to calculate calibrated UCS from wireline logs. Here, the impact of this predictive correlation is that UCS can be calculated from as little as a bulk density log when sonic logs and core are not available, greatly increasing the number of wells in which we can obtain a local UCS estimate.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

SPRUCE Peat Mercury, Methylmercury and Sulfur Concentrations from Experimental Plot Cores, Beginning in 2014

This data set reports the results of physical and chemical analyses of peat core samples from the SPRUCE experimental study plots located in the S1-Bog in northern Minnesota, 40 km north of Grand Rapids in the USDA Forest Service Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF). Sample collection and analyses started in June of 2014 and will continue for the duration of the experiment. Core samples are collected annually from all 12 plots to a depth of 200cm in 10cm and 25cm increments. Samples are analyzed for total mercury concentration, methylmercury concentration, percent carbon, percent nitrogen, and percent sulfur.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

CO 2 -brine relative permeability and capillary pressure of Tuscaloosa sandstone: Effect of anisotropy

Relative permeability and capillary pressure are known as essential properties that have substantial impacts on the accuracy of reservoir simulations. The effect of small-scale heterogeneity and lamination in the rock structure is often ignored during the measurement of capillary pressure and relative permeability curves in core samples. This study highlights the remarkable impact of anisotropy on the multiphase flow properties of stratified formations. A series of steady-state CO 2 -brine drainage and imbibition tests are conducted at reservoir conditions in horizontal and vertical core samples of the Tuscaloosa sandstone from the Cranfield CO 2 injection site in Mississippi. The relative permeability curves represent an anisotropic behavior influenced by the heterogeneous and laminated structure of realistic rock samples. The CO 2 saturation profiles during drainage and imbibition cycles indicate that the phase distribution in the pore space is controlled by core-scale heterogeneity in the porosity distribution among the laminations that causes capillary pressure inhomogeneity. Using the saturation profile during the imbibition cycle, the trapping characteristic of the horizontal and vertical rock samples are compared and we found that the capillary trapping is less likely in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the centrifuge-measured capillary pressure demonstrates distinctive characteristics for horizontal and vertical core samples. Since the flooding experiments are performed under capillary controlled flow, the capillary pressure contrast in the laminated structure of the rock strongly affects the relative permeability. The presented results can potentially improve the accuracy of the large-scale simulations for the CO 2 post-injection period, in which the vertical displacement has an important role in the plume migration.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗