On May 24 2022, the Canadian Society for Unconventional Resources (CSUR), with joint collaboration between the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the University of Toronto, held a virtual workshop to discuss considerations for the geological storage of carbon dioxide, hydrogen and compressed air. As the world transitions into a cleaner energy future, there is a need to understand the fundamentals of rock mechanics in underground storage, fracture mechanics and geometry related to fluid flow, permeability and sorption.
Several research teams across Canada such as the University of Toronto, University of Calgary and the University of Alberta discussed the advancements and challenges in carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS). Highlights of the University of Toronto research group include the importance of geological structure and fabric, advances in high resolution imaging, thermos-hydro-mechanical coupled modelling and challenges in traditional remote sensing tools. At the end of the workshop, Grasselli’s Geomechanics research group was also able capture the moment for digital storage with a group picture.