Descriptif

Geological storage of wastes and energy

Aims

The courses address the crucial issues of energy storage, and more specifically geological (underground) mass storage, which is one of prerequisites to the development of the sector of Renewable Energies. Yet, energy production is necessarily associated with release of wastes, some of which also need to be geologically sequestrated.

Topics

We will see basic notions of geological storage:

1) basics of structural geology, concerned with upper crustal (sedimentary) rocks and their geological settings.

2) what do we need to store or sequestrate underground.

We will see the different forms of energy storage (hydrocarbons, compressed air, hydrogen…), and the different kinds of wastes (chemical and nuclear wastes, CO₂…).

3) where and how can we do geological storage/sequestration, and at what risks.

We will see the appropriate geological formations (shales, carbonates and evaporates), with respect to the type and technique of storage.

4) geo-materials and their mechanical behaviors.

A large part of the courses is approached from the geo-material perspective. We will be mostly concerned with clay-rocks, carbonaceous-rocks and rock-salt. A special focus will be done on rock-salt and its viscoplastic behavior (crystal plasticity). Indeed, deep rock-salt caverns and mines are among the mostly used facilities for underground waste and energy storage.

Organization

The courses are based on nine sessions. Seven sessions combine lectures and practical approaches. Two sessions will be devoted to laboratory experimental work (sample preparation, mechanical testing, microscale characterization by optical and electron microscopy).

Evaluation

The evaluations will be on the basis of a personal work (eventually by pair). Three possibilities:

1. i) critical analysis of selected literature.
2. ii) report on a case study.

iii) report on the practical/experimental work.

Prerequisites

Specific prerequisites are not necessary.