UniRoma1
Sapienza University of Rome – CERI Research Centre
Italy
Description of the entity:
With 21 faculties and over 4500 teaching and research staff, Sapienza University of Rome is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for education and cutting edge research. The Fluid Chemistry Group, Department of Earth Sciences, affiliated with the CERI Research Centre on Geological Risks, represents the university in this proposal. It has specialised in near-surface gas and water geochemistry since 1980, using it as a tool in such topics
as basic geology (tectonics, fault mapping, volcanic processes), resource exploration (geothermal, oil and gas, mineral), pollution mapping (garbage dumps, gasoline spills), and geological disposal (nuclear, CO2). Due to the high social relevance of the issues addressed, since 1999 an interdisciplinary collaboration with social science researchers has been started and is now consolidated into a team work approach to science dissemination and public perception issues. With the addition of social scientists to the group, we have worked to take our knowledge and experience beyond the boundaries of the research laboratory, increasing our involvement at societal level, experimenting innovative approaches to science and society dialogue and researching the perception of technological innovation.
Contribution to the Work Plan and expertise brought to ENOS:
UniRoma1 will act in WP3 coordinating the activities for understanding risk of CO2 migration through faults and boreholes for effective monitoring. Work will be performed at the Sulcis site, an area where we first conducted baseline monitoring in 2009 and where we are presently involved with other Italian research partners in site characterisation work for the proposed CCS pilot. We will be responsible for coordinating a CO2 injection test at 200 m depth into a fault; we have already performed three shallow (>20m) injection tests in previous EC funded projects, including one at the Latera site during the NASCENT CCS project. Related to the injection test, within WP3, we will: conduct groundwater and near-surface gas geochemistry monitoring using methods proven within the RISCS project; further develop, test, and deploy innovative monitoring tools (GasPro, GasMapper) that we initially studied at lower Technology Readiness Levels in RISCS and CO2GeoNet; and perform detailed fault analyses and 3D modelling of CO2 gas movement using industry standard software like Petrel, Move 2011, and Comsol Multiphysics based on our experience in CO2GeoNet and industry funded projects. In addition we will collaborate with monitoring at the Hontomin (WP1) site.
In WP5 UniRoma1 will lead the work with local populations for the integration of technical, scientific and societal aspects in the definition of guidelines for CO2 storage implementation and for providing access to CO2 storage sites’ implementation processes to the public at large. UniRoma1 will bring to the project previous experiences in the study of public perception processes related to the geological storage of CO2 and dissemination and communication activities carried on in several EC-funded projects like CO2GeoNet, CGS Europe, ECO2 and R&Dialogue. In particular UnoRoma1 will build on the experience with long term group work with members of the lay public performed within the ECO2 project; the management of complex societal dialogue processes within the R&Dialogue project and on a variety of experiences in developing CO storage communication tools by working with multidisciplinary teams, from CO2GeoNet brochures to ECO2 video for the young generation “CCS a bridging technology for the energy of the future” to the lay report on public perception “The geological storage of CO2: and what do you think?”.
As a centre of education excellence, we will be very active in the training activities of WP8, particularly as the task leader on the CCS education programme.
UniRoma1 is involved in
- WP1. Ensuring safe storage operations (Task 1.3 Monitoring safe underground storage behaviour)
- all 4 tasks in WP3. Managing leakage risks for protection of the environment and groundwater (WP3. Managing leakage risks for protection of the environment and groundwater; Task 3.2 Understanding risk of CO2 migration through faults and boreholes for effective monitoring (Leader); Task 3.3 Development of monitoring tools; Task 3.4 Integrated monitoring solution)
- all tasks in WP5. Coordination with local communities (WP Leader) and task leader for Tasks 5.1 Knowledge development and integration in a societal perspective and 5.2 Work with the local communities
- 2 of the 5 tasks in WP6. International Cooperation & seeding pilots and demos in Europe (Task 6.1 International cooperation; Task 6.4 Preparation of follow-up stages for ENOS pilot sites)
- WP7 Spreading innovation for Research integration and Best practices
- all tasks in WP8. Promoting CCS through training and education, and Leader of Task 8.3 CCS educational programme
Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Roma, Roma
