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At least 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Preliminary Study of Potential Utilization of Triassic Rift Basins for Long-Term Carbon Sequestration

Triassic rift basins of the eastern United States present a potential option for long–term carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) sequestration. Exposed and buried basins are located near large point CO 2 sources. Because of their similar origins, comparable fill successions indicate a level of reproducibility that can be conveyed between basins. The thick rock successions of the exposed Culpeper and Gettysburg basins served as proxies for understanding of the basin sequences. Their study allowed recognition of five mappable assemblages of rock types, herein termed lithofacies associations. These lithofacies associations were formed by alluvial fan, braided and meandering streams and marginal and distal lake depositional processes.Stratigraphic architecture of the lithofacies associations within exposed basins suggests a vertical succession that consists of an initial coarse-grained fluvial succession that is progressively replaced upward and basinward by finer grained lacustrine deposits. Along the faulted margins of the basins alluvial fans transitioning to fluvial delta deposits reflect lateral progradation and contemporaneous lateral components of the basin filling.To test the model devised in exposed basins, facies associations were developed for the buried Taylorsville Basin. This basin preserves over 8,000 feet of Triassic rocks that are concealed beneath more than 2,000 feet of Cretaceous and Tertiary Coastal Plain sediments. Composition and stratigraphic architecture of these rocks are similar to those observed in exposed basins. Infilling of the basin was the result of vertical aggradation and lateral progradation of coarse-grained to fine-grained facies. Based upon study of outcrops in the Culpeper and Gettysburg basins, groups of recurring lithologic facies were identified as the fundamental constructs of the basin’s sediment infilling. These groups of facies, termed lithofacies associations, represent an amalgamation of lithologic components from broadly similar depositional systems. These lithologic associations were then extrapolated into the exposed and buried portions of the Taylorsville basins. This effort determined that Triassic rift basins provide several avenues for potential study of geologic sequestration of carbon. The characteristic rift basin succession in the basins presents possible reservoir targets within the marginal fluvial deposits. Furthermore, intrusive and extrusive mafic bodies present a potential source of fracture porosity that could serve as CO 2 reservoirs. Porosity values from thin section analysis of exposed basin samples are higher in alluvial fan and braided fluvial lithofacies. Porosity is highest in samples that show less compaction, due to a lack of ductile lithic fragments and/or higher stratigraphic position. Log data from the Taylorsville Basin indicates that porosity and permeability values in basin marginal fluvial strata are elevated. Near the center of the basin, porosity and permeability values are greatly reduced, primarily owing to the fine-grained character of the lacustrine deposits. Some Triassic basins also contain thick intervals of concordant extrusive and intrusive mafic igneous rocks. These igneous bodies are potential CO 2 reservoirs for several reasons. Firstly, extrusive lava flows provide potential storage in the layers of primary porosity that occur in the vesicules formed at the top of lava flows. Secondly, both lava flows and subsurface igneous sills exhibit extensive fracture porosity produced by the rapid cooling of the flows and intrusions. Thirdly, these igneous rocks are mafic in composition, and studies have shown that iron- and magnesium-rich mafic rocks provide sequestration opportunities through carbonate remineralization. Lastly, extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks are invariably preserved within fine-grained lake deposits. These lacustrine sediments can serve as a fine-grained confining layer that encases the igneous rocks both above and below.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2024

Heating performance of a vapor compression heat pump cascaded with a thermoelectric heat pump

Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) are widely utilized for heating and cooling in residential buildings; however, their effectiveness in heating mode is compromised during extreme weather conditions. Extensive research endeavors have been undertaken to develop, test, and assess a cost-effective vapor compression ASHP suitable for cold climate regions. Further, this study takes an innovative approach by developing component and system prototypes for a cold climate heat pump. This design combines a thermoelectric heat pump (TEHP) with a traditional residential split ASHP to augment heating capacity in low ambient temperature conditions. The component and system prototypes underwent experimental testing in the psychrometric chambers. The experimental findings revealed a 13.6% to 13.7% increase in total heat pump heating capacity, accompanied by a 3.1% to 5.0% decrease in the coefficient of performance (COP) at ambient temperatures of -15°C and -19°C, when compared to the original ASHP. The COP of the TEHP is relatively constant, ranging from 1.63 to 1.76. This prototype offers a solution to address the challenges associated with reduced heat pump capacity at low ambient temperatures. The experimental results indicated that the lower the ambient temperature, thermoelectric heat pump auxiliary heating can increase the heating efficiency 60% in comparison to electric resistance.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

In situ quantification of fracture slip induced by hydraulic injections in a deep borehole: A comparison of two different borehole techniques

In situ measurements of fracture deformation during fluid injection are rare, yet essential for understanding the mechanical response of fractured rock. In this study, we evaluate the reliability of two methods by comparing their slip vector estimates: high-resolution borehole acoustic televiewer images captured before and after injection tests, and displacement data from a three-component borehole deformation probe recorded during the injections. Acoustic televiewer images capture only final in-plane displacement, whereas three-component borehole deformation measurements provide full 3D, transient fracture movement. Four injection tests in a fractured granitic rock mass along an inclined borehole at the Bedretto Underground Laboratory (Switzerland), beneath more than 1100 m of overburden, were analyzed. The two methods yielded consistent kinematics and comparable slip magnitudes, typically in the range of 0.2 – 0.6 mm. Angular differences between estimated slip directions ranged from 0.2° to 28°. For two test intervals with pre-existing fractures optimally oriented for slip, the measured slip vectors agreed with forward-modeled slip vectors based on the regional in situ stress field, supporting the Wallace–Bott hypothesis. Measurable shear displacement was identified in two test intervals containing fractures oriented nearly perpendicular to the least principal stress, including a newly formed hydraulic fracture. This demonstrates that even fractures unfavorably oriented for slip can undergo shear due to local stress perturbations around an inclined borehole.

Acoustic televiewer↗
DOE OSTI2024

Methods for Quantitative Thermal Analysis of Lithium Solid-State and Beyond Battery Safety

The use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to measure the thermal behavior of individual components and electrolyte/electrode combinations is common. However, here we focus on DSC tests on an anode, cathode, and electrolyte (ACE) component combination over a temperature range that includes many of the phase transitions and key reactions (i.e., to 500 °C) that contribute to thermal runaway. This method can help quantify the complex reaction network in a full cell, thereby informing potential safety issues. Here, we used DSC heat flow data from a solid-state Li 0.43 CoO 2 +C+PVDF | LLZO | Li metal ACE sample and its components to quantify key factors affecting results. We focused on three areas: (1) ACE sample preparation and assembly in DSC pans, (2) DSC measurement parameters, and (3) heat flow analysis. Key points include the choice of component ratios (e.g., commercially relevant N:P capacity ratio), the importance of conductive carbon and binder, type of pan used, DSC ramp rate, and integration method used when dealing with broad and overlapping exothermic peaks. This work deepens the scientific basis and best practices for obtaining heat flow data from ACE samples for early-stage evaluation of solid-state and beyond battery safety.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Design, fabrication, and testing of a water-cooled tungsten-foam high-heat flux plasma-facing module

Here, we present a comprehensive study detailing the design, fabrication and testing a new modular “finger” component, featuring a hexagonal tungsten foam armor tile bonded to the top surface of the water-cooled finger unit. The mechanical, thermal, and particle transport properties of the tungsten foam armor were determined for a wide range of porosity and cell size, and then combined in an equivalent solid material with “effective” properties suitable for large-scale simulations. A series of 3-D multiphysics simulations for coupled thermal and mechanical behavior of the “finger” module are used to optimize the design before fabrication. The simulation results show that, for the expected experimental conditions, a safe range of heat flux and foam porosity is possible for both water-cooling and helium-cooling. Based on these multiphysics simulations, an optimum finger cooling module has been fabricated at Ultramet, Inc. A series of experiments were designed to study the thermomechanical performance of the “finger” unit under steady-state and transient thermal loading at surface heat flux up to 16 MW/m 2 in the High Energy Flux Test facility (HEFTY) at UCLA. Testing conditions included low-power, steady-state plasma exposure at 6 MW/m 2 , followed by severe high heat flux cycles at 16 MW/m 2 . Results of these tests are explained through comparisons with multiphysics simulations. To eliminate the effects of thermomechanical damage carried out on a module on its thermo-mechanical response on a subsequent test, three different yet identically designed and fabricated finger modules were tested. The results show that the current design is capable of cooling the walls of fusion devices at surface heat flux up to 6 MW/m 2 without failure, and that the failure heat flux limit is below 16 MW/m 2 .

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

CSP Optical Facilities at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory

The concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Optical Facilities at NREL comprise unique optical tools and facilities for testing and characterizing concentrating solar optical components. These facilities are maintained to aid researchers and industry efforts to reduce market barriers, improve the performance, reduce the cost, and improve the lifetime and reliability of CSP materials, components, subsystems, and integrated concepts, where accurate and timely characterization methods are needed. To reach this goal, NREL is committed to collaborating in ongoing and projected research needs for industry, academia, and government entities, in the development and characterization of low-cost, high-performance reflector and absorber materials in addition to their components-a key element in the conversion of concentrated sunlight into energy. To accomplish this mission, the core laboratory includes the Advanced Optical Materials Laboratory, indoor and outdoor accelerated weather testing tools, "Distant Observer" for parabolic troughs, the High Flux Solar Furnace, and the ultra-accelerated weather testing tools. This equipment enables to rapidly respond to new challenges with novel solutions that align with the goals of the Solar Energy Technology Office (SETO) at the U.S. Department of Energy. The goal of this paper is to present the state-of art-optical facilities available at NREL that can help support the research needs of the CSP community. Therefore, we review here the different components of the CSP Optical Facilities at NREL and highlight their characteristics and importance for the CSP community.

accelerated weather testing↗
DOE OSTI2020

ENG 572 Interim Report

Sandia National Laboratories is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) founded in 1949 with the mission of developing and testing the non-nuclear components of nuclear weapons. Sandia has since been involved with numerous projects to support the Department of Defense’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). One such set of projects has been implementing over-the-road transportation security enhancements. Under this program, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has worked to develop interface compatibility modifications for existing shipping configurations. This summer I will be working with a line of trailers that have been used to transport high asset cargo. These vehicles have successfully traveled millions of miles without any accidents over the course of 15 years. The primary motivation for the work that I will complete this summer is to provide support for existing electronic communication technologies implemented at SNL. As part of an ongoing project to implement modifications to a trailer system, I will focus primarily on the characterization and testing of thermal electric coolers (TEC). Within the scope of the trailer project, these devices provide temperature control for lasers used on optical communication boards (OCB).

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Thermal Hydraulic Experimental Test Article - Report of THETA Commissioning for METL Testing

The Thermal Hydraulic Experimental Test Article (THETA) is a facility that will be used to develop sodium components and instrumentation as well as acquire experimental data for validation of reactor thermal hydraulic and safety analysis codes. The facility will simulate nominal conditions as well as protected/unprotected loss of flow accidents in a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR). High fidelity distributed temperature profiles of the developed flow field will be acquired with Rayleigh backscatter based optical fiber temperature sensors. The facility is being designed in partnership with systems code experts to tailor the experiment to ensure the most relevant and highest quality data for code validation. THETA is comprised of a traditional primary and secondary system. The primary system is submerged in the pool of sodium and consists of a pump, electrically heated core, intermediate heat exchanger, and connected piping and thermal barriers (redan). The secondary system, located outside of the sodium pool, consists of a pump, sodium to air heat exchanger, and connected piping and valves. Figure 1 illustrates the main components of the primary system. THETA has been installed in the Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) with the primary system in the 28 inch Test Vessel #4, Figure 2 and Figure 3. Since the FY20 THETA status report, [1], further water shakedown testing was performed, some final welding modifications were performed, all system components were sanitized, dry assembled, and commissioned before installing into METL test vessel #4. The THETA submersible electromagnetic flowmeter was welded closed to hermetically seal internal components from sodium followed by a helium leak check for the final time

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Acoustic-based monitoring and machine learning of component status for microreactor applications

This report provides a description and assessment of recent efforts to couple acoustic-based experimental measurements and characterization with machine learning models in order to enhance structural health monitoring capabilities for nuclear microreactors. With resilient embedded sensors in development by others supported by programs funded by the US Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, the work described herein builds upon ongoing efforts to improve non-destructive testing technology that relates measured acoustic signatures to component stresses and/or structural defects, using a combination of new experimental measurements and machine learning architectures. The experimental procedure remained similar to that developed for the previous year’s demonstration of damage detection by the authors, with the same damaged sample tested under similar applied stress conditions. Notably, a new mounting fixture was designed and implemented to improve measurement consistency and a more sophisticated laser Doppler vibrometer was employed to make high-fidelity vibration measurements. Two nominally identical sets of training data were collected for each experimental setup to better understand the repeatability of the experiment and to better test the generality of trained neural network models. Additionally, we obtained new high-quality 3D mode shapes of the damaged test article at various stress and excitation levels, providing greater insights into the physical response of the sample during testing. Previously, we demonstrated that a machine learning model based on a convolutional neural network can predict structural details of an artificially introduced interface (intact, rough cut, smooth cut), and the applied torque level. In this study, we have transitioned to graph-based neural network architectures to better develop and test a flexible framework that is more suitable to being transferred away from controlled benchtop experiments and into more applied settings where less-structured data inputs may be expected. In general, performance testing of a graph neural network on frequency-domain representations of the data indicates strong and consistent identification of test conditions for datasets recorded on damaged components. With goals of predicting damage location and other changing experimental conditions using limited datasets, predictive models using a graph neural network architecture correctly predicted the applied torque level with an accuracy of 85% using only a single measurement point and predicted within one torque level in 95% of test windows. Predictions of damage location had limited success due to the symmetry and minimal number of the damage scenarios presented during model training. Results were ambiguous as to whether the model could detect the location of the artificial damage, or if it was instead learning the location of a given measurement point on the part and subsequently detecting which points were closest to the location of the damage. This finding will be factored into upcoming planned work on damaged graphite components, where new experimental tests with a larger number and variety of damage scenarios are expected to provide improved validation of recent developments in monitoring methodology.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Designing a Magnetic Measurement Data Acquisition and Control System With Reuse in Mind: A Rotating Coil System Example

Accelerator magnet test facilities frequently need to measure different magnets on differently equipped test stands and with different instrumentation. Designing a modular and highly reusable system that combines flexibility built-in at the architectural level as well as on the component level addresses this need. Specification of the backbone of the system, with the interfaces and dataflow for software components and core hardware modules, serves as a basis for building such a system. The design process and implementation of an extensible magnetic measurement data acquisition and control system are described, including techniques for maximizing the reuse of software. The discussion is supported by showing the application of this methodology to constructing two dissimilar systems for rotating coil measurements, both based on the same architecture and sharing core hardware modules and many software components. The first system is for production testing 10 m long cryo-assemblies containing two MQXFA quadrupole magnets for the high-luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider and the second for testing IQC conventional quadrupole magnets in support of the accelerator system at Fermilab.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Radiation Testing at Sandia National Laboratories: Sandia – JPL Collaboration for Europa Lander

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is assisting Jet Propulsion Laboratory in undertaking feasibility studies and performance assessments for the Planetary Protection aspect of the Europa Lander mission. The specific areas of interest for this project are described by task number. This white paper presents the evaluation results for Task 2, Radiation Testing, which was stated as follows: Survey SNL facilities and capabilities for simulating the Europan radiation environment and assess suitability for: A. Testing batteries, electronics, and other component and subsystems B. Exposing biological organisms to assess their survivability metrics. The radiation environment the Europa Lander will encounter on route and in orbit upon arrival at its destination consists primarily of charged particles, energetic protons and electrons with the energies up to 1 GeV. The charged particle environments can be simulated using the accelerators at the Ion Beam Laboratory. The Gamma Irradiation Facility and its annex, the Low Dose Rate Irradiation Facility, offer irradiations using Co-60 gamma sources (1.17 and 1.33 MeV), as well as Cs-137 gamma (0.661 MeV) AmBe neutron (0-10 MeV) sources.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Cummins R-SOFC System Development

The overall purpose of this project was to reduce the Reversible-Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (R-SOFC) system cost by developing two technologies, an improved cell design and the incorporation of an ejector in the fuel recycle loop instead of a blower. A Simulink model of the baseline SOFC system was developed and calibrated with experimental test data. The R-SOFC system model was built by integrating GT Suite developed models of the steam generation components into the baseline Simulink SOFC system model. The ability to run the stack in SOEC operating mode was also added to the model. The system model was used to explore the ability of the R-SOFC system to meet operational constraints on Steam/Carbon ratio and H2 concentration on the fuel side electrode. A CFD ejector model was developed and used to explore a range of ejector design parameters, leading to the final ejector design that was prototyped for testing. A prototype steam ejector was first tested in a laboratory environment using room temperature air. The steam ejector was subsequently tested using the full hot recycle loop with all relevant heat exchangers and steam generation components. The test conditions utilized temperatures, pressures, and flow rates expected in an R-SOFC application. Throughout the experimental testing work, ejector performance test data was used to improve and then validate the CFD ejector model. A CFD cell model was developed and used to optimize thermal gradients, voltage, and cost of a new cell substrate design. A CFD comparison of co-flow and cross-flow cell designs informed the decision to use a co-flow design for the new cell substrate. Multiple rounds of CFD simulation were used to improve the cell design to minimize the variation in air and fuel distribution across cell channels and to minimize the variation in air and fuel distribution across different cells in the stack. A few prototypes of the new cell substrate design were produced and validated in a laboratory environment by thermally spraying and verifying that they met established manufacturing specifications. The cell manufacturing process was adjusted in order to bring these metrics within acceptable tolerances. Cummins’ internal calculations show that the new cell design reduces cost ~50% compared to the baseline cell, while the ejector + superheater/boiler concept reduces cost of the recycle loop by ~40%. The impact of these cost reductions on the cost of producing H2 will depend on the specific system where they are applied. Therefore, a Techno-Economic Analysis was completed using system cost as a variable, and showing how the NREL Current and Future system costs translate into H2 production cost.

Henrichsen, Lars↗
DOE OSTI2020

An Initial Assessment of the Design Margins of Different ASME Section III, Division 5 Design Rules

This report develops a method for assessing the design margin of the ASME Section III, Division 5 Class A design rules, focusing on a definition of margin as the ratio between the actual, expected component life and the ASME design life. Full inelastic finite element simulations with a complete damage model capturing the available creep, creep-fatigue, fatigue, and tension test failure data produce the expected component lives, which can then be compared to corresponding ASME design calculations. The focus of this particular work is on Alloy 617 and the ASME creep-fatigue design rules, but the approach is general and could be applied to other design limits and to other materials. A margin assessment of a representative Alloy 617 component shows the ASME creep-fatigue design rules applied to this component have a margin of 10 on design life. The report describes several challenges in completing a more comprehensive margin assessment of the ASME rules, in particular challenges in developing probabilistic assessment methods for high temperature structural components. The report details these challenge and discusses the immediate possibilities of the deterministic margin assessment method developed here.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Gripper Test Assembly Status Report (FY2020)

Refueling systems for fast reactors are designed to handle fresh and used core assemblies (fuel, reflector, and shield core assemblies) within the reactor vessel in an opaque coolant environment without visual reference. These refueling machines are designed to work in a sodium (or other fast reactor coolant) and argon vapor space environment and are engineered with the rotatable plug system to allow for the movement of fresh and spent fuel into and out of the reactor core. The refueling machines are a critical component in any reactor and thus need to undergo extensive testing in a prototypic environment to ensure that they will meet all of the system functions and requirements. Argonne has developed an innovative compact refueling system design for the Advanced Fast Reactor-100 that is based upon some mechanisms used in previous reactor designs, such as the U.K.’s Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) and some mechanisms that have not been used in sodium. This compact refueling machine supports the reduction in size of the AFR-100’s reactor vessel, and if fully developed, would support and inform the development of the in-vessel refueling machines for such commercial reactors as the GEH PRISM reactor plant, the ARC Clean Energy’s ARC-100 reactor, and the Natrium reactor, among others. This refueling system is a vital component of a fast reactor that supports reducing the cost of the reactor and increasing its reliability. During the development of the compact fuel handling machine conceptual design for the AFR-100, a lack of testing data for many mechanical components in sodium under typical in-reactor loads and conditions was discovered. The reduction in lifetime of the various mechanical components in the liquid sodium environment needs to be quantified versus the calculated component lifetimes under normal conditions in the testing while they are subjected to typical loading profiles experienced in the past. The Gripper Test Assembly discussed here includes a full-size gripper device with appropriate mechanical features that will be tested in sodium to provide this testing data. The Gripper Test Assembly is used to test various mechanical fuel handling components submerged in high temperature liquid sodium. These mechanisms are gears, bearings, gripper jaws and head, universal joints and shafts, ball screws, among others. These components will be tested under the typical sodium environmental conditions experienced during refueling operations with appropriate loading conditions that simulate the removal and insertion of core assemblies into a fast reactor grid plate structure. This Gripper Test Assembly is the second in a series of refueling system mechanisms developed for testing in sodium. The first test assembly is the Gear Test Assembly (GTA) which was used to test the performance of gears and bearings operating in sodium. Because of the successful testing conducted with the GTA, it was decided to continue with the development of the Gripper Test Assembly which uses the same gears and bearings tested in GTA. Using the data collected during operation of this gripper test assembly, lifetime reduction factors of the various mechanical components can be calculated for the material combinations selected. These lifetime reduction factors can be used in the design of future mechanical systems which operate in these environments to accurately predict component end of life. In addition, an understanding of the ability of these components and mechanisms to operate under-sodium with the chosen materials will be accomplished. Again, this Gripper Test Assembly is the follow-on test article to the Gear Test Assembly which was testing the ability of gears and bearings operating in a sodium environment. Once fabricated and qualified, it will be tested in the Mechanism Engineering Test Loop (METL) facility located in Building 308 at Argonne National Laboratory.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Development of solid materials for UF 6 sampling: FY16 Annual Report

A handheld implementation of the ABACC-developed Cristallini method, which captures uranium hexafluoride samples as an inert salt, was organized in FY17 and succeeded in demonstrating the handheld sampler concept with reactive hexafluoride gases. The Cristallini method relies on the use of a hydrated substrate to react the incoming hexafluoride resulting in the formation of a stable uranyl fluoride salt. The Cristallini method has been demonstrated as a facility modification installed near the sampling tap of a gas centrifuge enrichment plant. While very successful in reducing the hazards of uranium hexafluoride sample, the method still takes a considerable amount of time and can only be used in facilities where the apparatus has been installed; this arrangement generally prohibits the sampling of filled cylinders that have already exited the facility and have been deposited in the on-site tank storage yard. The handheld unit under development will allow the use of the Cristallini method at facilities that have not been converted as well as tanks in the storage yard. The handheld system utilizes an active vacuum system, rather than a passive vacuum system in the facility setup, to drive the uranium hexafluoride onto the adsorbing media. The handheld unit will be battery operated for fully autonomous operation and will include onboard pressure sensing and flushing capability. To date, the system concept of operations was demonstrated with tungsten hexafluoride that showed the active vacuum pump with multiple cartridges of adsorbing media was viable. Concurrently, the hardened prototype system was developed and tested; removable sample cartridges were developed (the only non-COTS component to date); and preparations were made for uranium tests and a domestic field test.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Small Scale Field Test Demonstrating CO 2 Sequestration In Arbuckle Saline Aquifer And By CO 2 -Eor At Wellington Field, Sumner County, Kansas

The objectives of this project are to understand the processes that occur when a maximum of 70,000 metric tonnes of CO 2 are injected into two different formations to evaluate the response in different lithofacies and depositional environments. The evaluation will be accomplished through the use of both in situ and indirect MVA (monitoring, verification, and accounting) technologies. The project will optimize for carbon storage accounting for 99% of the CO 2 using lab and field testing and comprehensive characterization and modeling techniques. Site characterization and CO 2 injection should demonstrate state-of-the-art MVA tools and techniques to monitor and visualize the injected CO 2 plume and to refine geomodels developed using nearly continuous core, exhaustive wireline logs, and well tests and a multi-component 3-D seismic survey. Reservoir simulation studies will map the injected CO 2 plume and estimate tonnage of CO 2 stored in solution, as residual gas, and by mineralization and integrate MVA results and reservoir models shall be used to evaluate CO 2 leakage. A rapid-response mitigation plan was developed to minimize CO 2 leakage and provide a comprehensive risk management strategy. The CO 2 was intended to be supplied from a reliable facility and have an adequate delivery and quality of CO 2 . However, several unforeseen circumstances complicated this plan: (1) the initially negotiated CO 2 supply facility went offline and contracts associated with CO 2 supply had to be renegotiated, (2) a UIC Class VI permit proved to be difficult to obtain due to the experimental nature of the project. Both subjects are detailed in separate deliverables attached to this report. The CO 2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and geologic storage in Mississippian carbonate reservoir was sucessully deployed. Approximately 20,000 metric tons of CO 2 was injected in the upper part of the Mississippian reservoir to verify CO 2 EOR viability in carbonate reservoirs and evaluate a potential of transitioning to geologic CO 2 storage through EOR. A total of 1,101 truckloads, 19,803 metric tons—an average of 120 tonnes per day—were delivered over the course of injection that lasted from January 9 to June 21, 2016. After cessation of CO 2 injection, the KGS 2-32 well was converted to water injector and continues to operate. CO 2 EOR progression in the field was monitored weekly with fluid level, temperature, and production recording and formation fluid composition sampling. It is important to note that normally, CO 2 EOR pilots are less efficient than commercial operations due to lack of directional and precise well control, lack of surface facilities for CO 2 recycling, and other factors. As a result of this pilot CO 2 injection, the observed incremental average oil production increase was ~68% with only ~18% of injected CO 2 produced back. Decline curve analysis forecasts of additional cumulative oil produced were 32.44M STB to the end of 2027. Wellington Mississippian pilot efficiency by the end of forecast calculations is 11 MCF per barrel of produced oil. Using 32M STB oil production and $1,964,063 cost of CO 2 , CO 2 EOR cost per barrel of oil production is ~$60. Simple but robust monitoring technologies proved to be very efficient in detecting and locating CO 2 . High CO 2 reservoir retentions with low yields within an actively producing field could help to estimate real-world risks of CO 2 geological storage for future projects. The Wellington Field CO 2 EOR was executed in a controlled environment with high efficiency. This case study proves that CO 2 EOR could be successfully applied in Kansas carbonate reservoirs if CO 2 sources and associated infrastructure are available. Recent developments in unconventional resources development in Mid-Continent USA and associated large volume disposal of backflow water and the resulting seismic activity have brought more focus and attention to the Arbuckle Group in southern Kansas. Despite the commercial interest, limited essential information about reservoir properties and structural elements has impeded the management and regulation of disposal, an issue brought to the forefront by recent seismicity in and near areas of large volumes and rates of brine disposal. The Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) collected, compiled, and analyzed available data, including well logs, core data, step rate tests, drill stem tests, 2-D and 3-D seismic data, water level measurements, and others types of data. Several exploratory wells were drilled and core was collected and modern suites of logs were analyzed. Reservoir properties were populated into several site-specific geological models. The geological models illustrate the highly heterogeneous nature of the Arbuckle Group. Vertical and horizontal variability results in several distinct hydro-stratigraphic units that are the result of both depositional and diagenetic processes. During the course of this project, it has been demonstrated that advanced seismic interpretation methods can be used successfully for characterization of the Mississippian reservoir and Arbuckle saline aquifer. Analysis of post-stack 3-D seismic data at the Mississippian reservoir showed the response of a gradational velocity transition. Pre-stack gather analysis showed that porosity zones of the Mississippian and Arbuckle reservoirs exhibit characteristic amplitude versus offset (AVO) response. Simultaneous AVO inversion estimated P- and S-impedances. The 3-D survey gather azimuthal anisotropy analysis (AVAZ) provided information about the fault and fracture network and showed good agreement to the regional stress field and well data. Mississippian reservoir porosity and fracture predictions agreed well with the observed mobility of injected CO 2 in KGS well 2-32. Fluid substitution modeling predicted acoustic impedance reduction in the Mississippian carbonate reservoir introduced by the presence of CO 2 . Seismicity in the United States midcontinent has increased by orders of magnitude over the past decade. Spatiotemporal correlations of seismicity to wastewater injection operations have suggested that injection-related pore fluid pressure increases are inducing the earthquakes. In this investigation, we examine earthquake occurrence in southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma and its relation to the change in pore pressure. The main source of data comes from the Wellington Array in the Wellington oil field, in Sumner County, Kansas, which has monitored for earthquakes in central Sumner County, Kansas, since early 2015. The seismometer array was established to monitor CO 2 injection operations at Wellington Field. Although no seismicity was detected in association with the spring 2016 Mississippian CO 2 injection, the array has recorded more than 2,500 earthquakes in the region and is providing valuable understanding to induced seismicity. A catalog of earthquakes was built from this data and was analyzed for spatial and temporal changes, stress information, and anisotropy information. The region of seismic concern has been shown to be expanding through use of the Wellington earthquake catalog, which has revealed a northward progression of earthquake activity reaching the metropolitan area of Wichita. The stress orientation was also calculated from this earthquake catalog through focal mechanism inversion. The calculated stress orientation was confirmed through comparison to other stress measurements from well data and previous earthquake studies in the region. With this knowledge of the stress orientation, the anisotropy in the basement could be understood. This allowed for the anisotropy measurements to be correlated to pore pressure increases. The increase in pore pressure was monitored through time-lapse shear-wave anisotropy analysis. Since the onset of the observation period in 2010, the orientation of the fast shear wave has rotated 90°, indicating a change associated with critical pore pressure build up. The time delay between fast and slow shear wave arrivals has increased, indicating a corresponding increase in anisotropy induced by pore pressure rise. In-situ near-basement fluid pressure measurements corroborate the continuous pore pressure increase revealed by the shear-wave anisotropy analysis over the earthquake monitoring period. This research is the first to identify a change in pore fluid pressure in the basement using seismological data and it was recently published in the AAAS journal Science Advances (Nolte et al., 2017). The shear-wave splitting analysis is a novel application of the technique, which can be used in other regions to identify an increase in pore pressure. This increasing pore fluid pressure has become more regionally extensive as earthquakes are occurring in southern Kansas, where they previously were absent. These monitoring techniques and analyses provide new insight into mitigating induced seismicity’s impact on society.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2017

DFLAW Glass and Feed Qualifications to Support WTP Start-Up and Flow-Sheet Development (Final Report, Rev. 0)

In each test, a distinct feed composition was used to determine the effects of feed composition changes on the retention of technetium and other species as detailed in the Test Plan for this work. Key operating parameters such as the glass temperature (nominally 1150°C) were held constant to investigate the effect of each new feed composition on the retention of technetium. The processing rate was maintained at ≈2,250 kg/m 2 /day of glass, which corresponds to the “stretch-goal” rate of 22.5 MT/day specified by ORP for the WTP LAW melter, or ≈2,000 kg/m 2 /day of glass, which corresponds to the enhanced baseline specified by ORP for the WTP LAW melter (as compared to the nominal 1500 kg/m 2 /day). The bubbling rate was adjusted to achieve a near-complete cold-cap (90-100% of melt surface covered with feed). Quantitative measurements of glass production rates, melter operating conditions (temperatures, pressures, power, flows, etc.), gaseous emissions by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and particulate emissions using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methods were made for each test. Discharged and melt pool glass samples were inspected for formation of any salt phases and analyzed for chemical composition, including technetium content. Samples of the process fluids from each of the off-gas treatment system components were collected and analyzed. Following each test, the off-gas system was partially disassembled and extensively sampled for any residual feed components residing within the off-gas system. Sampling and analysis during and subsequent to each test was intended to be sufficient for supporting a mass balance for all constituents of interest and particularly technetium, rhenium, iodine, sulfur, chlorine, and fluorine. Additional sampling and analysis of evaporator concentrates and condensates was conducted for various organic compounds.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2023

High-Performance Coal-Based Commercial Facade Panels and Architectural Components (Phase I Final Report)

Semplastics has developed, tested, and documented the viability for commercialization of a new class of composite architectural panel materials that use coal as the primary constituent. This project produced sample panels using these novel materials that comprise 55% coal by mass (71% carbon by mass) and are comparable in dimensions to commercially available materials, while displaying superior mechanical strength, significant weight savings, and better insulating ability at a competitive cost. Phase I moved this coal-based composite materials technology from a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 3 to TRL 5. Semplastics’ new coal-based composite materials display an array of high-performance characteristics, including light weight, mechanical durability, temperature stability, and water resistance. These new materials require less energy to produce than comparable commercial products and could be manufactured on existing conventional plastic resin processing equipment in commercial quantities. The coal particles are completely encapsulated in ceramic from a polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) precursor, then bonded together by another inorganic resin. The material can be molded and cured to produce fireproof components such as ceiling panels, facades, and extruded underlayment, blocking, and backer boards, as well as other architectural design components such as moldings. The project included the production of sample panels for proof of concept, testing of the panels to show their improved characteristics, and development of a scale-up strategy to demonstrate the viability of the coal-based panels as a commercial alternative to existing building materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗