A system model for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide

Area of Science:

• Earth Sciences
• Environmental Engineering
• Computational Modeling

Background:

• Geologic sequestration of CO2 is a key strategy for climate change mitigation.
• Accurate performance assessment requires integrated modeling of complex physical and chemical processes.
• Uncertainty quantification is crucial for evaluating the long-term safety and economic viability of CO2 storage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce CO2-PENS, a comprehensive system-level computational model for assessing geologic CO2 sequestration.
• To enable probabilistic simulations of CO2 capture, transport, injection, and long-term fate.
• To couple diverse physical processes operating at different timescales for holistic performance evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Development of CO2-PENS as a modular, system-level computational framework.
• Probabilistic simulations sampling from parameter distributions to estimate global uncertainty.
• Coupling of process-level modules (e.g., injection, plume migration, economics) within the system model.
• Integration of physics-based calculations with economic assessments.

Main Results:

• CO2-PENS provides a framework for simulating the entire lifecycle of geologic CO2 sequestration.
• The model quantifies cumulative uncertainties across coupled processes over simulation time.
• An example demonstrates how injection parameters and plume size influence sequestration costs.

Conclusions:

• CO2-PENS offers a robust tool for performance assessment of geologic CO2 sequestration.
• The modular design facilitates adaptation to evolving complexities in CO2 storage research.
• Integrated modeling and uncertainty quantification are vital for reliable economic and environmental evaluations of CO2 storage projects.