• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.181-191
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• 2016

In geological storage of $CO_2$, the behavior of $CO_2$ is influenced by pore network of rock. In this study, the drilling cores from Pohang Basin were analyzed quantitatively using three-dimensional images acquired by X-ray micro computed tomography. The porosities of sandstone specimens around 740 m-depth (T1), 780 m-depth (T2) and 810 m-depth (T3) which were target strata were 25.22%, 23.97%, 6.28%, respectively. Equivalent diameter, volume, area, local thickness of pores inside the sandstone specimens were analyzed. As a result, the microstructural properties of T1 and T2 specimens were more suitable for geological storage of $CO_2$ than those of T3 specimens. The result of the study can be used as input data of the site for decision of injection condition, flow simulation and so on.

• Plant Journal
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.42-45
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• 2013

The worldwide issue of greenhouse gas reduction has recently drawn great attention to carbon capture and storage(CCS). In this study, we developed a 10,000 ton/year pilot injection plant for geological storage of carbon dioxide. Major components of the pilot plant include a pressure pump, a booster pump, and an inline heater to bring liquid carbon dioxide into its supercritical state. The test results show that the pilot plant readily achieves the injection pressure and temperature, showing satisfactory control performance. The overall power consumption is 2,000 ~ 2,500 W, more than 75% of which consumed by the pressure pump. This study will facilitate varied research on greenhouse gas reduction as the only domestically developed system for geological injection.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.18-29
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• 2010

Offshore subsurface storage of $CO_2$ is regarded as one of the most promising options to response severe climate change. Marine geological storage of $CO_2$ is to capture $CO_2$ from major point sources, to transport to the storage sites and to store $CO_2$ into the offshore subsurface geological structure such as the depleted gas reservoir and deep sea saline aquifer. Since 2005, we have developed relevant technologies for marine geological storage of $CO_2$. Those technologies include possible storage site surveys and basic designs for $CO_2$ transport and storage processes. To design a reliable $CO_2$ marine geological storage system, we devised a hypothetical scenario and used a numerical simulation tool to study its detailed processes. The process of transport $CO_2$ from the onshore capture sites to the offshore storage sites can be simulated with a thermodynamic equation of state. Before going to main calculation of process design, we compared and analyzed the relevant equation of states. To evaluate the predictive accuracies of the examined equation of states, we compare the results of numerical calculations with experimental reference data. Up to now, process design for this $CO_2$ marine geological storage has been carried out mainly on pure $CO_2$. Unfortunately the captured $CO_2$ mixture contains many impurities such as $N_2$, $O_2$, Ar, $H_{2}O$, $SO_{\chi}$, $H_{2}S$. A small amount of impurities can change the thermodynamic properties and then significantly affect the compression, purification and transport processes. This paper analyzes the major design parameters that are useful for constructing onshore and offshore $CO_2$ transport systems. On the basis of a parametric study of the hypothetical scenario, we suggest relevant variation ranges for the design parameters, particularly the flow rate, diameter, temperature, and pressure.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.359-370
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• 2010

$CO_2$ leakage from a geological formation utilized for $CO_2$ storage could result in failure of the facility and threaten the environment, as well as human safety and health. A reactive transport model of a $CO_2-H_2O$-cement reaction was constructed to understand chemical changes in the case of $CO_2$ leakage through a cement crack in an injection well, which is the most probable leakage pathway during geological storage. The model results showed the dissolution of portlandite and CSH (calcium silicate hydrate) within the cement paste, and the precipitation of secondary CSH and calcite as the $CO_2$ plume migrated along the crack. Calcite occupied most of the crack after 3 year of reaction, which could be maintained until 30 years after crack development. The present results could be applied in the development of technology to prevent $CO_2$ leakage and to enhance the integrity of wells constructed for $CO_2$ geological storage.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

Geological storage of captured $CO_2$ is a new way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to protect the climate, but is based on the established technology associated with injection of fluids underground. The geological formations of interest for this technique include operational and depleted oil and gas fields, and deep saline aquifers. Prediction of storage performance will depend on models of the behaviour of $CO_2$ in geological formations; these need to be refined and verified, and methods of monitoring developed and proved. These needs can be met through monitored demonstration and research projects. Current commercial projects that are demonstrating $CO_2$ storage include Sleipner, Weyburn, ORC, and In Salah; research projects include West Pearl Queen, Nagaoka, and Frio. In this paper, some of the monitored injection projects are described. The reservoirs employed for storing $CO_2$, and the associated monitoring techniques, are briefly reviewed. It is argued that small-scale research projects, used to develop techniques and prove models, are complementary to the large-scale monitored injections that will establish the viability of this technique for mitigating climate change.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2008

To response climate change and Kyoto protocol and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, marine geological storage of $CO_2$ is regarded as one of the most promising option. Marine geological storage of $CO_2$ is to capture $CO_2$ from major point sources(eg. power plant), to transport to the storage sites and to store $CO_2$ into the marine geological structure such as deep sea saline aquifer. To design a reliable $CO_2$ marine geological storage system, it is necessary to perform numerical process simulation using thermodynamic equation of state. The purpose of this paper is to compare and analyse the relevant equations of state including ideal, BWRS, PR, PRBM and SRK equation of state. To evaluate the predictive accuracy of the equation of the state, we compared numerical calculation results with reference experimental data. Ideal and SRK equation of state did not predict the density behavior above $29.85^{\circ}C$, 60 bar. Especially, they showed maximum 100% error in supercritical state. BWRS equation of state did not predict the density behavior between $60{\sim}80\;bar$ and near critical temperature. On the other hand, PR and PRBM equation of state showed good predictive capability in supercritical state. Since the thermodynamic conditions of $CO_2$ reservoir sites correspond to supercritical state(above $31.1^{\circ}C$ and 73.9 bar), we conclude that it is recommended to use PR and PRBM equation of state in designing of $CO_2$ marine geological storage process.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2009

Underground storage cavern is known as the most complicated underground project because of the complexity of construction schedule, tunnel size, and geological problems. In order to optimize the construction schedule of underground storage cavern, two up-to-date technologies were applied. The first technology was 3 dimensional visualization of complicated underground structures, and the second was 4 dimensional simulation considering construction resources, geological conditions and construction schedule. This application case shows that we can achieve optimized construction schedule in the ways to optimize the number of work teams, fleets, the sequence of tunnel excavation, the commencement time of excavation and the hauling route of materials and excavated rocks. 3 dimensional modeling can help designer being able to understand the status of complicated underground structures and to investigate the geological data in the exact 3 dimensional space. Moreover, using 4 dimensional simulation, designer is able to determine the bottle neck point which appear during hauling of excavated rocks and to investigate the daily fluctuation in cost.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.161-174
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• 2018

$CO_2$ storage site for small-scale demonstration has been investigated in Yeongil Bay, Pohang, SE Korea, using seismic survey and exploration well data. We found a potential storage formation consisting mainly of conglomerate and sandstone. The storage formation unconformably overlies volcanic basement rocks that are located in a depth from 650 to 950 m (below sea level). The depth of the storage formation is suitable for injecting supercritical $CO_2$ in the Pohang Basin. The average thickness of the storage formation is about 123 m, which possibly provides sufficient capacity at the level of small-scale storage demonstration. The overlying fine-grained deposits consist mainly of marine hemipelagic muds and interlayered turbidite sands. The overlying formation is considered as a good seal rock that is over 600 m thick and widely distributed in the onshore and offshore portions of the basin. NNE-trending faults found in the study area likely formed at basement level, probably not continue to seafloor. Such faults are interpreted as syndepositional faults involved to the basin initiation. This study reveals that the offshore area of the Pohang Basin contains deep geological formations suitable for small-scale $CO_2$ storage demonstration.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.63-70
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• 2023

Underground carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage emerges as a pivotal strategy for mitigating atmospheric CO₂ emissions and addressing global warming concerns. This study investigates techniques to optimize storage efficiency in aquifers, which stand out for their superior capacity compared to other geological layers. The focus is on the application of nonionic and anionic surfactants to enhance CO₂ storage efficiency within confined spaces. A specialized micromodel facilitating fluid flow observation was employed for the evaluation. Experimental results revealed a noteworthy minimum 40% increase in storage efficiency at the lowest injection rate when utilizing nonionic and anionic surfactants, in comparison to pure water injection. Interestingly, no significant variations in storage efficiency were observed based on the ionicity and concentration of the surfactants under investigation. These findings have implications for guiding the selection and concentration determination of surfactants in future underground CO₂ storage endeavors.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

Deep geological disposal is the preferred storage method for high-level radioactive waste, because it ensures stable long-term storage with minimal potential for human disruption. Because of the risk of groundwater contamination, a buffer of steel and bentonite layers has been proposed to prevent the leaching of radionuclides into groundwater. Quartz is one of the most common minerals in earth's crust. To understand how deformation and dissolution phenomena affect waste disposal, here we study quartz samples at pressure, temperature, and pH conditions typical of deep geological disposal sites. We perform a dissolution experiment for single quartz crystals under different pressure and temperature conditions. Solution samples are collected and the dissolution rate is calculated by analyzing Si concentrations in a solution excited by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). After completing the dissolution experiment, deformation of the quartz sample surfaces is investigated with a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). An empirical formula is introduced that describes the relationship between dissolution rate, pressure, and temperature. These results suggest that bentonite layers in engineering barrier systems may be vulnerable to thermal deformation, even when exposed to higher temperatures on relatively short timescales.