National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC

The University of Texas System

Sandia Corporation

Wayne State University

Jason E Heath

Thomas Dewers

Charles R Bryan

Yifeng Wang

Chowdary Ramesh Koripella

Mohsen Ahmadian-Tehrani

David T Chapman

Chester J Weiss

Wallace McAliley

Gungor Didem Beskardes

Robert J Finch

Jacob A Harvey

Richard P Jensen

Leela Arava

Kristopher L Kuhlman

Chemical wave systems that utilize chemical compounds with nonlinear chemical wave behavior can be used to detect or sense material changes such as a change in a radiation source. Such chemical systems include autocatalysis that produce self-sustaining spatial and/or temporal fluctuations in chemical attributes such as species concentrations, pH, and/or redox state. Through application of the chemical compounds with wave behavior into engineered geologic environments, such as those for containment of a liquid or solid, the chemical wave behavior may be triggered or modified by perturbations, including intrusion into the environment. The chemical wave behavior is an indicator of the said perturbation and monitored by various means tailored to the type of chemical waves. The chemical waves can have a type of 'fingerprint' based on their wave behavior that lasts beyond a transient disturbance that could later be discerned by measurement of the chemical wave attributes.

Chemical wave perturbation detection systems and methods

Autonomous wireless sensors in subsurface environments can be charged while present in the subsurface environment to allow the sensors to measure and wirelessly transmit measurements. The sensors rely upon a contrast agent to provide a power flow path to the sensors.

Systems, methods and computer program products for charging autonomous wireless sensors in subsurface environments

A system and method for powering a borehole sensor with thermal energy is disclosed. The system includes a tubular pipe inserted into a subsurface borehole. A borehole casing is coaxially disposed with the tubular pipe. An annular space between the casing and the tubular pipe has a power source placed in the borehole to power a sensor in response to a temperature gradient between a surface of the casing and a surface of the tubular pipe. The method includes attaching thermopiles on the borehole casing or tubing; placing the thermopile in the annulus between the casing and the tubing; inducing a thermal gradient across the thermopile; generating an electrical energy in response to the temperature gradient; powering the sensor from the generated energy; and monitoring vertical expansion of a COplume.

System and method thermopile energy harvesting for subsurface well bore sensors

A method for geo-sequestration of a carbon dioxide includes selection of a target water-laden geological formation with low-permeability interbeds, providing an injection well into the formation and injecting supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO) and water or bine into the injection well under conditions of temperature, pressure and density selected to cause the fluid to enter the formation and splinter and/or form immobilized ganglia within the formation.

Method for carbon dioxide sequestration

A method for geo-sequestration of a carbon dioxide includes selection of a target water-laden geological formation with low-permeability interbeds, providing an injection well into the formation and injecting supercritical carbon dioxide (SC&#x2014;CO) into the injection well under conditions of temperature, pressure and density selected to cause the fluid to enter the formation and splinter and/or form immobilized ganglia within the formation. This process allows for the immobilization of the injected SC&#x2014;COfor very long times. The dispersal of scCO2 into small ganglia is accomplished by alternating injection of SC&#x2014;COand water. The injection rate is required to be high enough to ensure the SC&#x2014;COat the advancing front to be broken into pieces and small enough for immobilization through viscous instability.

Growing community of inventors

Edgewood, NM, United States of America

Jason E Heath