In a significant advancement for energy transition research, Cem Sarica, the Floyd M. Stevenson Distinguished Professor of Petroleum Engineering, and Eduardo Pereyra, the F.H. “Mick” Merelli/Coterra Energy Chair, were awarded a $1.25 million grant from the Department of Energy to spearhead innovative studies on the energy sector’s evolution. The University of Tulsa’s North Campus mesoscale facilities will be the epicenter for groundbreaking carbon dioxide (CO2) management research.
This grant positions TU at the forefront of energy transition research and demonstrates a proactive commitment to tackling society’s complex environmental challenges. The study’s outcomes are poised to influence the design and operation of CO2 transport systems worldwide, marking a pivotal step toward a more sustainable energy future.
“The captured CO2 needs to be transported and injected into suitable storage reservoirs. This presents unique challenges related to multiphase flow, flow assurance, and safety,” said Sarica and Pereyra. The pair noted that current design tools were developed for oil and gas applications and are not suitable for carbon dioxide.
“Research by TU faculty in the multifaceted energy sector has never been so vibrant,” remarked Vice President for Research & Economic Development Rose Gamble. “The funding their projects have received from the U.S. Department of Energy is evidence of the critical nature of the work being carried out and a powerful sign of the rapid, impactful growth of research and development across TU.”
Acknowledging the pressing challenges of climate change, energy markets and companies are undergoing a key transition to diverse energy resources. While fossil fuels remain a substantial part of the energy mix, there is a critical need to reduce CO2 emissions. The TU grant focuses on developing solutions for capturing, transporting, and storing CO2, primarily from large-scale fossil fuel utilization in power plants and industrial facilities.
“Building upon our legacy in oil and gas, the College of Engineering & Computer Science is poised to make significant contributions to the global energy landscape through innovative research in energy transformation,” said Andreas A. Polycarpou, dean of TU’s College of Engineering & Computer Science. “This grant marks a pivotal moment for us, enabling our researchers to explore new horizons in CO2 management and sustainable energy solutions. We are committed to shaping a future where energy is not only cleaner and more efficient but also accessible and reliable for all.”
TU’s mesoscale facilities will conduct comprehensive research across three key areas:
- Surface transportation of CO2: The project aims to understand dense-phase CO2 transport through pipelines, maintaining high pressures to optimize efficiency. The research will assess existing multiphase flow models and strive to develop improved predictive models for CO2 transport systems.
- Injection of CO2 into wells: The second study targets the injection of CO2 into subsurface formations, focusing on the downward flow in wells – a phenomenon not widely studied in traditional oil and gas operations. The goal is to enhance or develop new design models based on extensive empirical data.
- Flow assurance of CCS: Addressing flow assurance concerns, such as hydrate formation and corrosion, the third study will create hydrate formation envelopes and evaluate system operability under these conditions, focusing on maintaining pressures below the fracture threshold.