NETL's Geological Sequestration Core Flow Laboratory is a flexible, state-of-the-art facility investigating much-needed solutions for how to store CO₂ that has been captured from coal-fired power plants. In this laboratory setting, researchers are able to study chemical reactions of CO₂ for different types of geological formations where CO₂ can be injected and stored. The goal is to be able to simulate the conditions found in all the potential major geological categories identified as sequestration sites, such as oil and gas fields, unmineable deep coal seams, brine formations, and natural gas hydrates.

The Core Flow Laboratory performs long-term experiments injecting CO₂ into different types of rock under various controlled conditions and environments. These tests are designed to mimic a variety of pressures and temperatures found in natural geological formations. At the same time, researchers can monitor how the chemistry of the rock formations is affected. As CO₂ is injected, changes in the ability of the formations to accept CO₂ also can be monitored continuously. The laboratory houses various rock materials of different sizes and configurations, and has full instrumentation to record real-time and pre-and post-conditions of the samples during experiments.

Analysis of the data obtained from these tests will lead to a greater understanding of the processes required for cost-effective, long-term storage of CO₂ in suitable geological formations. The comparison between these lab test results and predictions from modeling experiments ultimately will lead to improved models. Closely linking the laboratory, field, and modeling activities will help ensure accurate results of future modeling experiments, in preparation for implementing sequestration options.

The laboratory has a wide range of analytical and diagnostic instrumentation:

Coal and Reservoir Rock Core Preparation Equipment

• Variable-speed coring drill, with 1.0-, 1.5-, 2.0-, and 4.0-inch diameter coring capability
• Wet and dry core cutting saws
• Core end polishing systems for rock studies

Coal and Reservoir Rock Core Flow Unit
NER AutoLab 1500 computer-controlled servo-hydraulic triaxial test system

• Permeability with H₂O, CO₂ (liquid, super-critical, gas phases), and brine
• Pore volume compaction – volume or storage
• Stress/strain relationships via strain gages and linear variable differential transducers (LVDTs) – Young's Modulus, Poisson's Ratio

Core Porosity Equipment
Heated vacuum oven and scales – Porosity of cores utilizing wet and dry bulk densities

Other Instrumentation
The laboratory also utilizes NETL's Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Ion Chromatograph, X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectroscope (ICP-MS), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Computer-aided Tomography (CT) Scanner, as well as traditional instruments used in rock and mineral analysis, among other apparatus.

New England Research, Inc., AutoLab 1500 Computer Controlled Servo-Hydraulic Triaxial Core Flow Unit and Test system
Unjacketed Reservoir Rock or Oriskany Sandstone Core with Strain gages and LVDT Transducers Connected Prior to Insertion into the NER Core Flow Unit

	Right Cylindrical Core Preparation Capabilities:
	1.	Reservoir Rock - Oriskany Sandstone
	2.	Pittsburgh Seam Coal
	3.	Jacketed Pittsburgh Seam Coal after Elastic Moduli Test in NER AutoLab 1500 Core Flow Unit

For more information contact: T. Robert McLendon