Energy and Environment

Exponential growth in population and rapid industrialization has put immense stress on existing natural resources. Our environment is also under stress due to climate change and global warming. A global effort is underway to develop smart solutions to provide access to clean air, power, and water. The relationship between energy and the environment is intricate and significant. Energy production and consumption have profound impacts on the environment, and conversely, environmental conditions can influence energy availability and utilization.

Our research focuses on energy resources and the mitigation of environmental impacts related to energy activities, including carbon capture, produced water treatment, and flow assurance.

Carbon Capture

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies play a crucial role in delivering clean energy and combating climate change, particularly as electricity demand escalates alongside population growth and the rapid expansion of the electric vehicle market. A newly developed approach for precombustion carbon capture utilizing gas hydrates has drawn considerable attention because of its promising potential.

Hydrate-based precombustion carbon capture is a method that involves using gas hydrates, which are ice-like crystalline solids formed by water and gas molecules under specific pressure and temperature conditions, to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from fuel gases before combustion. The benefits of hydrate based precombustion carbon capture are high capture efficiency, low energy consumption, scalability, potential for CO2 storage as hydrates and its compatibility with various fuel types. The major bottlenecks that was impacting scaling up of the hydrate based precombustion carbon dioxide capture process are the slow kinetics of hydrate formation and high operating pressure requirements.

Currently our efforts are to identify suitable promoter and reactor configuration to enhance the kinetics and lower the operating conditions of the process.

Schematics of hydrate based precombustion carbon dioxide capture process.

Produced Water Desalination

Desalination is the process of removal of salts and minerals from saline water or brine. Produced water (PW) is an alternative source of saline water or brine from oil and gas production. The global volume of produced water generated worldwide amounts to approximately 39.5 million cubic meters per day. In the United States alone, approximately 21.2 billion barrels (equivalent to 9.2 million cubic meters per day) of produced water were generated in 2012. The characteristics of produced water exhibit significant variation based on factors such as the type of hydrocarbon extracted, the geological location, and the formation it originates from. The total dissolved solids of PW can be up to 300,000 mg/L. PW can be re-used after proper treatment for irrigation, livestock watering, aquifer storage, and municipal and industrial uses.

Hydrate-based desalination is a novel and prospective technology for produced water treatment. Our current research focuses on identifying a suitable hydrate former that can operate at milder conditions and enhance the kinetics of hydrate formation to commercialize this process will be provided. These details also include the process of developing and demonstrating an innovative prototype and economic analysis of the hydrate-based desalination process.

Schematics of the Clathrate hydrate desalination process.

Flow Assurance

Flow assurance is a crucial field in the oil and gas industry, focused on ensuring the uninterrupted and efficient transport of hydrocarbons from reservoirs to processing facilities. It involves managing and mitigating various challenges that can impede flow within pipelines and production systems like wax deposition, hydrate formation, asphaltene precipitation, scale formation, corrosion, and erosion. Wax deposition is managed through mechanical removal, thermal methods, and chemical treatments. Hydrate formation is mitigated by understanding multiphase flow dynamics and using inhibitors. Asphaltene issues are controlled with chemical inhibitors, while scale formation is addressed with scale inhibitors. Corrosion is prevented through inhibitors and protective coatings, and erosion is minimized by using erosion-resistant materials. By tackling these issues, flow assurance enhances the reliability, safety, and efficiency of hydrocarbon production and transportation systems.

Our research group focuses particularly on wax deposition and hydrate formation in pipelines. Our efforts are directed towards developing and optimizing mechanical removal methods, thermal techniques, and chemical treatments. Mechanical removal methods involve the physical extraction of wax deposits, while thermal techniques focus on maintaining the temperature of the pipeline above the wax appearance temperature to prevent solidification. Chemical treatments aim to inhibit wax crystallization and deposition through the use of specially formulated additives. Additionally, we are delving into the dynamics of multiphase flow, studying how different phases interact and affect wax deposition.

Schematics of Flow Assurance Issues