PhD Defence by Hamed Moosanezhad Kermani

This PhD project investigates challenges in subsurface fluid injection, with a focus on produced water reinjection (PWRI) and geological CO2 storage. Both processes are influenced by complex bio-chemical interactions that affect PWRI injectivity and CO2 storage security. The thesis develops reactive transport and chemical models to assess formation damage, mitigation strategies, and caprock integrity.

Integrating experimental and computational methods, the study evaluates mineral scaling during PWRI and introduces a new model to predict the interaction of calcite and oil colloids with chalk surface. A separate model simulates injectivity loss caused by oil, solids, biomass, and scale, and is also used to evaluate the impact of physico-chemical remediation strategies. For CO2 storage, geochemical simulations reveal how mineral reactions with CO2 and impurities (H2S, SO2, NO2) influence long-term caprock sealing.

The work provides predictive tools for improving subsurface injection strategies, with broader relevance to geothermal energy, pollutant transport, and bio-clogging.

Principal supervisor: Sr.Res. Hamid Nick
Co-supervisor: Sr.Res. Karen Feilberg

Examiners:
Associate Prof. Lauren Beckingham, Auburn Univ. AL., USA
Sr.Reservoir. Eng. , ResGeochemist Tim Tambach, Shell Global Solutions International B.V
Professor Simon Ivar Andersen, DTU Offshore

Chairperson at defence:
Sr. Res. Frederic Amour, DTU Offshore