Oil and Gas CDT Chemical tracer loss during carbon dioxide

Oil and Gas CDT
Chemical tracer loss during carbon dioxide leakage from
carbon storage sites
University of Strathclyde (Civil & Environmental Engineering)
Supervisory Team
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Key Words
Dr Christine Switzer
http://www.strath.ac.uk/civeng/staff/christineswitzer/
Professor Zoe Shipton & Dr Jen Roberts
http://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/shiptonzoeprof/
http://www.strath.ac.uk/civeng/staff/jenniferroberts/
carbon capture & storage; chemical tracers; leakage
Overview
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is in development to
significantly reduce anthropogenic carbon dioxide CO2
emissions. A key element of risk assessment for the
subsurface storage of CO2 is the monitoring of transport
of leaked CO2 from the subsurface via sediments and
soils into the marine or terrestrial environments.
Chemical fingerprinting of injected CO2 is widely
considered a low cost, highly effective monitoring
option. Effective application of tracers in CCS could
provide information on (i) the movement, interaction
and fate of injected CO2 in the subsurface and (ii) the
detection of CO2 that has leaked from the storage
complex to the surface and (iii) the quantification of
leaked CO2, as required by EU regulation. Tracers
selected to provide information on (ii) and (iii) must be
conserved during transport through the subsurface.
Sorption behaviour and losses of tracer chemicals is a
recognised gap in the CCS community. Consequently, it
is difficult to establish the practical considerations for
tracer applications: tracer concentration and injection
strategy, tracer cost, monitoring strategy, and wider
environmental impacts of tracer release, particularly
where the tracer itself is a powerful greenhouse gas.
tracers for offshore marine sites to be established.
Specific research objectives are (1) perform lab
experiments to establish tracer dispersion, sorption and
losses in a range of homogenous marine and terrestrial
media for selected conservative tracers, such as
methane, noble gases, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), and
perfluorinated compounds (PFCs); (2) for suitable
tracers, perform similar experiments for more complex
environments, such as heterogeneous or stratified
sediments; (3) investigate the longevity of selected tracer
pulses; and (4) for selected tracers, constrain the
minimum injection concentration that will ensure
reliable detection of small CO2 leaks at the land surface
(marine or terrestrial) for several case studies.
Methodology
This PhD project combines laboratory and field research
to evaluate chemical tracer behaviour during CO2
leakage. This will enable the practical challenges of using
Figure 1. Sediment columns for chemical tracer
experiments
The successful candidate will carry out experiments
percolating tracer-CO2 gas mixtures through columns to
mimic tracer loss through marine and terrestrial
sediments and soils. Mass balance calculations will
establish tracer sorption and losses, and the longevity of
tracer pulses to inform injection strategy. The student
will pioneer tracer experiments in the laboratories and
have opportunities to carry out complementary work
with our existing collaborators at an experimental CCS
release site. The thesis will produce a set of best
practice recommendations for using conservative tracers
to monitor CO2 leakage in CCS.
Timeline
There is a common deadline of 31st January 2015 for all
applications to the NERC CDT. Interviews will be held
in February - March 2015, and candidates who are
offered a project must convey their decision regarding
that offer to the relevant institution by 10 a.m. on
Wednesday 18th March, 2015.
http://www.nerc-cdt-oil-and-gas.ac.uk/scholarships.html
Successful Candidate
The ideal candidate has a background in chemistry; earth
science; chemical or environmental engineering; or
petroleum geosciences. The successful applicant will be
trained in aspects of chemical tracer applications and
analysis, adsorption studies, and statistical analysis. The
project will utilise the recent £6M investment in new
Civil and Environmental Engineering laboratories at
Strathclyde.
The student will join a team of 30 students working in
the Engineering Geology & Geotechnics and
Environment research groups in the department’s stateof-the art labs. The student will be willing to develop
strong relationships with industry collaborators.
Training & Skills
As part of a CDT cohort, you will receive 20 weeks
bespoke, residential training of broad relevance to the
oil and gas industry: 10 weeks in Year 1 and 5 weeks
each in Years 2 and 3. Instructors will be both from
expert academics from across the CDT and also
experienced oil and gas industry professionals.
The supervisory team in Strathclyde has expertise in
CCS, fluid transport, chemical analysis, aquatic and soil
geochemistry, and geology. You will learn how to use a
range of advanced laboratory analysis methods as well as
how to integrate different data types and understand
their significance from both scientific and industrial
perspectives.
You will be expected to present posters and talks at
conferences and are also likely to spend time away from
the host universities. You will have opportunities to
participate in Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage
(SCCS) and UK Carbon Capture & Storage Research
Centre (UKCCSRC) activities.
The project will result in an in-depth knowledge of CCS
and leakage quantification. The student would be well
qualified for employment in specialist CCS research,
CCS implementation, environmental geoscience,
environmental management, and other areas.
Further Information
See CDT website for information and
eligibility requirements:
http://www.nerc-cdt-oil-and-gas.ac.uk/scholarships.html
See website for application process:
http://www.strath.ac.uk/civeng/pg/funding/phd/nerc/
Feel free to contact
Dr Christine Switzer
e: [email protected]
Figure 2. Researchers working in the new £6M
laboratory facility.