SINTEF ER
Trondheim, Norway

STORAGE

TRANSPORT

CAPTURE

DeFACTO (NO2.8)

Demonstration of Flow Assurance for CO2 Transport

DeFACTO will enable and improve large-scale CO2 transport and injection by enhancing understanding of CO2 pipes and injection wells. DeFACTO is a vertical flow facility that enables the circulation of CO2 through a 90 meters deep U-tube loop (depicted in the figure). The loop is instrumented with over 100 high precision-fast response pressure and temperature sensors, allowing to measure pressure waves with a high degree of accuracy. The vertical flow loop is connected to a 139 meters long horizontal flow loop, located on top of the facility. The horizontal flow loop enables circulation of CO2 with precisely controlled parameters (contaminants, temperature, pressure, gas to liquid ratio). The CO2 is then circulated through the vertical loop where its behaviour can be analysed at different depths. Each tube in the U-loop can be isolated and pressurised or depressurised individually. The data collected help understanding when and how the CO2 freezes under depressurisation, cavitation phenomena, two-phase and transient flow behaviour, and ultimately assist engineers in the design of safer and more efficient CO2 transport and storage systems.  Experiments that can be performed through DeFACTO both with pure CO2 and with impurities (N2, up to 20% CH4).

Areas of research

Areas of research normally supported by the facility include CO2 transport and injection, characterisation of phase behaviour of CO2 with impurities in a vertical well, CO2 flow and expansion. Experiments conducted by the facility include:
• Accurate estimation of heat transfer coefficient under controlled conditions.
• Both single- and two-phase flow. 
• Steady state flow at different T/P conditions and gas to liquid ratios.
• Transient  
• Shut in and first fill. 
• Depressurisations.     
• Blowouts.     
• Fluid hammers.
• Reservoir backflow.

State of the Art, uniqueness & specific advantages

The facility is the only one in Europe that allows the flow of CO2 with impurities in a controlled environment, with defined temperature in the hole and defined boundary conditions.

Scientific Environment

Located right next to the Depress facility in the thermal laboratories of NTNU/SINTEF with its available infrastructures and services and adjacent to the offices of leading scientists in the field of SINTEF and NTNU

Operating by

SINTEF Energy Research

SINTEF Energy Research
Norway
STORAGE technologies:
Pressure/injection, Dynamic modelling
TRANSPORT technologies:
CO2 pipeline transport and integrity, Flow Characterisation
CAPTURE technologies:
Systems
Research Fields:
Fluid dynamics, Modelling, Physical processes
Facility's fact sheet

Location & Contacts

Location
Trondheim, Norway
Contacts
Chiara Caccamo / Francesco Finotti
RICC Contacts - Secondary contact
Yessica Arellano

Facility Availability

Week
Unit of access (UA)
Week
Availability per year (in UA)
13 weeks
Duration of a typical access (average) and number of external users expected for that access
4 weeks, one external user expected.

Quality Control / Quality Assurance (QA)

Activities / tests / data are
Controlled: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001

Operational or other constraints

Specific risks:
Ethanol circuit, flammable. Possibility for leaks and exposure to CO2.
Legal issues
n/a

CCUS Projects

Other CCUS Projects
CLIMIT Demo
DeFACTO