NETL experts in the field of carbon management participated in the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) conference this week in Houston, Texas, where leaders from research institutions, universities and industry demonstrated the ongoing need for skilled petroleum geologists, geophysicists and engineers to help define the future of carbon management.

The conference highlighted current CCUS work and addressed related challenges, including subsurface geological storage, CO₂ enhanced hydrocarbon recovery, reservoir monitoring and risk assessment, case studies, industry applications, economics, incentives, policy and infrastructure.

Traci Rodosta, senior program manager for carbon infrastructure in the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) was a featured speaker. Before assuming her current duties, Rodosta was the carbon storage R&D technology manager at NETL. Over her 15-year NETL career, she also served as director of the Carbon Storage Division, coordinator of the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership, and project manager in the Storage, Natural Gas and Oil Project Management Divisions and Office of Systems Analysis.

Amanda Raddatz, director for Carbon Transport and Storage at DOE FECM, participated as a keynote speaker, providing a presentation on “DOE Initiatives for Advancement of Carbon Management.” Also presenting from FECM were Gilly Rosen with remarks on “CarbonSAFE: Catalyzing Carbon Storage for as Sustainable Future,” Robert Smith with remarks on “Carbon Transport and Storage Program: Supporting Storage Infrastructure Build-Out Critical for Decarbonization” and Rajesh Pawar with remarks on “New FECM Initiatives to Facilitate the Rapid Expansion of Geologic Carbon Storage Deployment.”

Several NETL researchers and FECM staff served as presenters and the Lab’s work was featured in a conference exhibit booth. 

NETL’s Carbon Management Technologies Program, which comprises a world-class team of high-performing leaders, scientists, and engineers, houses the necessary engineering and scientific expertise to manage external R&D projects that further FECM goals. 

Its research supports point source carbon capture, CO₂ removal, CO₂ conversion into products, and reliable CO₂ storage. This work also enhances power cycle efficiency and develops low-carbon hydrogen technologies. The guided scaling and commercialization of these industrial- and power-generation-affiliated technologies promotes the growth of good-paying jobs, especially to those in disadvantaged or burdened communities.

Program topics in which NETL/DOE personnel presented included:

• Carbon Storage Technical Viability Approach and National Data Assessment — M. Mark-Moser, C.G. Creason, and K. Rose of NETL, and J. Shay and J. Mulhern of DOE.
•  Risk-Based Adaptive Monitoring Plan Framework — V. Vasylkivska of NETL.
•  DOE’s Carbon Transport and Storage Program: Supporting Storage Infrastructure Build-Out Critical for Decarbonization — W. Aljoe and M. McKoy of NETL, and S. Forbes, Rodosta, D. Damiani, K. Dooley, R. Pawar, G. Rosen and R.W. Smith of DOE.
•  Carbonated Brine Injection as a Low-Risk CO₂ Storage Strategy: A Case Study for Inyan Kara Sandstone Reservoir — W. Xiong, Z. Belarbi, R. Thomas and D. Crandall of NETL.
•  Investigation of Scale Deposition and Wellbore Corrosion in Carbonated Brine Injection: A Simulation Study — Z. Belarbi, D. Crandall, R. Thomas and W. Xiong of NETL.
•  DOE’s National Risk Assessment Partnership: Delivering Tools to Support Risk-Based Decision Making for Geologic Carbon Storage Deployment — R. Dilmore and B. Strazisar of NETL.
•  Risk Considerations of Transitioning CO₂-EOR Field — G. Liu, R. Dilmore, B. Strazisar, G. Lackey, D. Morgan and L. Cunha of NETL. 
•  Modeling the Cost of Onshore CO₂ Pipeline Transport and Onshore CO₂ Saline Storage — D. Morgan, A. Sheriff, M. Mark-Moser, G. Liu, T. Grant, C. Creason, D. Vikara and L. Cunha of NETL. 
• Modeling Cost of Offshore Carbon Storage in Saline Reservoirs — M. Mark-Moser, T. Grant, D. Morgan, M. Marquis, K. Bello, A. Sheriff, D. Vikara, G. Liu and L. Cunha of NETL.

NETL drives innovation and delivers technological solutions for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous energy future. By using its world-class talent and research facilities, NETL is ensuring affordable, abundant, and reliable energy that drives a robust economy and national security, while developing technologies to manage carbon across the full life cycle, enabling environmental sustainability for all Americans.