SwRI: Subsurface Gas Disposal Services, Geosciences and Engineering

Development of carbon dioxide and sour gas disposal (e.g., CO₂ sequestration), and hydrogen storage facilities in geologic formations are important components of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop a sustainable energy economy. The Geosciences and Engineering Division of Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) offers a range of services to support the evaluation and development of these subsurface gas disposal and storage projects.

image of interpreted seismic line from a thrust belt off-shore of Turkey that helps constrain subsurface geometry.

Interpreted seismic line from a thrust belt off-shore of Turkey helps constrain subsurface geometry.

	$image from the 3DStress? program that calculates slip tendency and direction, dilation tendency permitting 2- and 3-D analyses of stress effects on faults and fractures.$
	The 3DStress^® program calculates slip tendency (top) and direction and dilation tendency (bottom), permitting two- and three-dimensional analyses of stress effects on faults and fractures. These analyses can be used to evaluate CO₂ leakage through faults and any potential for induced seismicity.

Subsurface Gas Disposal and Storage Capabilities

Geologic characterization and geomechanical modeling of deep geologic environments with particular expertise in folded, fractured, and faulted carbonate formations
Hydrogeochemical analysis and modeling of gas, water, and rock interactions
Numerical modeling of multiphase, non-isothermal fluid flow in geologic formations
Laboratory and theoretical analysis of corrosion and engineered material behavior in extreme geologic environments
System-level risk assessment and environmental impact analyses
Permitting and compliance with environmental regulations
Assessment of potential impacts on drinking water quality

SwRI Laboratory and Testing Facilities

The capabilities of the Geosciences and Engineering Division are complemented by the extensive laboratory and testing facilities of SwRI for:

Well-drilling and well-completion technologies for multi-phase and corrosive fluids
Reliability, efficiency, and safety analysis of engineered systems
Compressor design
Pipeline transmission of multi-phase and condensable fluids
Corrosion analysis
Pipeline protection
Risk analysis and management

image of spectral analysis of pulsation waveforms for piping system as well as compressor cylinder pressure-volume diagram.

For acoustical design analysis, SwRI typically provides spectral analysis of pulsation waveforms for the piping system, as well as a compressor cylinder pressure-volume diagram.

For more information about the subsurface gas disposal and storage capabilities of SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Dr. Gary Walter at gwalter@swri.org or (210) 522-3805.

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Southwest Research InstituteŽ (SwRIŽ) is an independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 12 technical divisions using multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving. The Institute occupies more than 1,200 acres and provides nearly two million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices for more than 3,300 employees who perform contract work for industry and government clients.