Navigating Carbon Sequestration Risks: Insights from Dr. Birendra Jha
By Carson Vest
Introduction
Dr. Birendra Jha, an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California, holds a joint appointment in the Departments of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, as well as Civil and Environmental Engineering. With a background spanning from Stanford University to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Jha’s expertise lies in the multi-physics modeling of fluid flow, transport, and mechanical processes within geologic formations. His primary focus revolves around addressing pressing environmental challenges, including climate change mitigation through geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO₂), and the transition to cleaner energy sources like hydrogen and renewables.
Unraveling The Complexities of CO₂ Storage
The core challenge Dr. Jha’s technology aims to tackle is the prediction and maximization of CO₂ storage capacity of geologic formations under various geophysical and engineering complexities to ensure large-scale storage with long-term security. By employing advanced computer simulation models, his team strives to understand, predict, and mitigate the risks associated with CO₂ storage, such as induced earthquakes, CO₂ leakage, and groundwater contamination. This involves conducting lab experiments to unravel the complex interplay between fluid flow and mechanical deformation processes, and its impact on risk evolution.
In addition to CO₂ storage, Dr. Jha is actively involved in researching the generation and storage of hydrogen as a clean energy alternative. Leveraging computational models and rock mechanics experiments, his lab addresses critical questions surrounding hydrogen production, storage, and the potential risks associated with its large-scale deployment.
Designing a Sustainable Future
The environmental and societal impact of Dr. Jha’s work is substantial, as it contributes to mitigating the risks of gas leakage, groundwater contamination, and induced seismicity associated with subsurface energy technologies. By developing predictive tools and conducting quantitative risk assessments, his research informs the selection, operation, and monitoring of CO₂ and hydrogen storage sites, ensuring minimal environmental impact and public health risks.
Scaling Up Computational Tools for Field Assessment
Looking ahead, Dr. Jha and his team are focused on enhancing the accuracy and scalability of their computational tools for field-scale applications. They seek partnerships with industry stakeholders and national lab teams to deploy and test these tools under real-world conditions, aiming to address the most pressing research challenges in subsurface energy technologies.
If you are interested in or would like to further discuss Dr. Jha’s research, please contact him using the information below.
bjha@usc.edu
