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Gas-Water-Rock Interactions Modelling Lab

The laboratory is in the IGG headquarters in the Pisa Research Area.

The Laboratory

The Gas-Water-Rock Interactions Modelling (GWRI) Lab is involved in a number of research activities focused on thermal, hydrogeological and geochemical aspects of Earth-Sciences.
The focus is on a suite of physical and chemical processes occurring in the upper crust that involve mass and energy exchange across atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and anthroposphere interfaces. In particular, chemical and thermal exchanges (reactions) occurring when water and gases come into contact with solid geological matrices are addressed under different hydraulic regimes, typically under water sub-critical T,P conditions.

Four different types of models are applied: (i) thermal (T), (ii) hydrogeological (H), (iii) geochemical (C), and (iv) reactive transport models (THC).
THC numerical modeling is a relatively advanced form of modeling that allows us to describe the evolution of natural systems by considering coupled effects due to variations in temperature, pressure, density, and fluid velocity, as well as the chemical/mineralogical composition of the fluids and solid matrix.
Depending on data availability and the purposes of the study, different combinations of coupled models are possible, which are less complex than THC models. For example, TH models are relatively widely used, capable of simulating the coupled hydrogeological and thermal behavior of natural underground systems. Most of the laboratory's activities are carried out as part of collaborations with research institutions and industries.

Among the most important fields of application of IGG numerical modeling: geothermal resource exploration/exploitation, geological confinement of greenhouse gases, assessment of water resource quality and its preservation.

Instruments

Several codebases are currently in use. Some are distributed free of charge, others have been obtained under academic licenses as contributors, or acquired commercially.
Among the most commonly used simulators are: TOUGH2, PHREEQC, PETRASIM, GWB®, TOUGHREACT.
Internally modified versions of some of the simulators mentioned above are also used.

Staff and Contacts

Staff:
Dr. Fabrizio Gherardi (Laboratory Manager)


Phones

+39 050 6212316 (Dr. Fabrizio Gherardi)


E-mail:

fabrizio.gherardi@igg.cnr.it

Methods and Applications

Fields of application include, but are not limited to:

  • Geothermal prospection/exploitation
  • Investigation of hydrothermal/volcanic systems
  • Geological storage of greenhouse gases
  • Management of hydrocarbon reservoirs
  • Study of diagenetic processes
  • Water quality assessment and preservation
  • Geochemical exploration for mineral resources
Spatial and temporal variation in porosity induced by the dolomitization of a carbonate platform
Mineral precipitation induced by evaporative processes in a paleo-sea in Northern Italy
pH patterns near the triple reservoir-caprock-wellbore cement interface in a site for geological storage of CO2
As aqueous total concentrations in a sandstone aquifer impacted by CO2 leakage
Temperature distribution and hydraulic flow vectors in the Pisa plain

Scientific Projects and Interests

Project:

The activities of the IGG Numerical Laboratory are funded by:

  • Unione Europea [FP7-ULTimateCO2 (2011-2015); H2020-DESCRAMBLE (2015-2018)]
  • Industry (2007-present)
  • Agencies for the environmental protection (2007-present)

Current activities:

  • Behavior of supercritical fluids in deep geothermal reservoirs
  • Behavior of engineered geothermal systems
  • Assessment of the risk of escape from sites for the geological containment of greenhouse gases
  • Assessment of water quality in drinking aquifers

Publications

  • Pierotti L., Cortecci G., Gherardi F. (2016). Hydrothermal gases in a shallow aquifer ar Mt.Amiata, Italy: insights from stable isotopes and geochemical modelling. Isotope in Environmental and Health Studies. DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2015.1113958
  • Bellani S., Magro G., Gherardi F. (2015). Heat flow and helium isotopes in the geothermal areas of Tuscany (Central Italy). Transactions – Geothermal Resources Council 39, 399-405.
  • Gherardi F., Droghieri E., Magro G. (2014). Hydrothermal processes at Aluto-Langano (Ethiopia): insights from the stable carbon isotope composition of fluid inclusions. Transactions – Geothermal Resources Council 38, 439-443.
  • Gherardi F., Audigane P. (2013). Modeling geochemical reactions in wellbore cement: assessing pre-injection integrity in a site for CO2 geological storage. Greenhouse Gas Science and Technology 3, 447-474.
  • Gherardi F., Audigane P, Gaucher E.C. (2012). Predicting long-term geochemical alteration of wellbore cement in a generic geological CO2 confinement site: Tackling a difficult reactive transport modeling challenge. Journal of Hydrology 420-421, 340-359.
  • Chiodini G., Caliro S., De Martino P., Avino R., Gherardi F. (2012). Early signals of new volcanic unrest at Campi Flegrei caldera? Insights from geochemical data and physical simulations. Geology 43, 943-946.
  • Gherardi F., Pruess K., Xu T. (2010). Modeling gas-water-rock interactions at Mt. Amiata geothermal field (Italy). Proc. XIII Water-Rock Int. Symp., Guanajuato, Mexico, pp. 859-862.
  • Consonni A., Ronchi P., Geloni C., Battistelli A., Grigo D., Biagi S., Gherardi F., Gianelli G. (2009). Application of numerical modelling to a case of compaction-driven dolomitization: a Jurassic palaeohigh in the Po Plain, Italy. Sedimentology 57, 209-231.
  • Gherardi F., Xu T., Pruess K. (2007). Numerical modeling of self-limiting and self-enhancing caprock alteration induced by CO2 storage in a depleted gas reservoir. Chemical Geology 244, 103-129.