OpenLab: Advancing CO2 and Underground Hydrogen Storage Simulations

OpenLab Drilling is an advanced simulator for research and technology development within drilling automation and digitalisation. The simulator is unique in providing realistic data for research and innovation projects. OpenLab has been a key contributor for the digital transition of drilling operations, and an enabler of developing and demonstrating the world’s first autonomous drilling system in 2021 at NORCE. It is also being used outside these domains in AI and control systems research.

More than 1000 users have visited or used OpenLab so far in 2023.

– OpenLab has proven to accelerate the readiness of new drilling technologies. Research and innovation speed will be a key factor in reaching our net-zero goals. We want to expand OpenLab to address CO₂ storage and leakage, and problems related to underground hydrogen storage, says Jan Einar Gravdal, Project Manager at OpenLab and Chief Scientist in NORCE Energy Modelling and Automation.

When storing CO₂ in a reservoir the risk for leakage in and around the well must be minimised, and any leakage needs to be mitigated.

– With the expansions of OpenLab we can contribute to developing and testing systems that can detect and handle these problems and help prevent them, says Jan Einar Gravdal.

New possibilities within hydrogen storage

On the Norwegian continental shelf and in Europe there is enormous potential for storage of hydrogen in old oil and gas fields and in salt caverns. However, one of the main challenges with storing hydrogen underground is the risk of leakage from the wellbore and the potential risk of blowouts through or around the well.

– The petroleum industry has worked on leakage detection systems and mitigation measures for decades, and hydrogen underground storage is associated with similar risks of leakage and potentially also blowouts. We now want to include new simulation capabilities into OpenLab providing hydrogen leakage and blow out simulations. There is an urgent need for research and improved technology to handle risks of leakage and blowouts if hydrogen underground storage is going to be a viable solution, Jan Einar.

Building on former successes

OpenLab's accomplishments are rooted in its collaborations with industry partners, having tested various technologies currently adopted by the industry. One such example is DrillTronics, a software instrumental in drilling the initial two wells for CO₂ storage in the Northern Lights project.

– OpenLab has been very important for testing Sekal technology, and in particular when integrated with other systems. Without access to the OpenLab environment, the qualification of our technology used when drilling the two CO₂ storage wells would be more time-consuming and expensive. We are confident that our technology has benefited from the capabilities of OpenLab, says Maria Dahle Johansen, R&D Project Manager at Sekal AS.

Equinor is one of the partners in the Northern Lights project and has been incremental in the digital transition and automation of drilling processes in the North Sea.

– The possibility of being able to test third-party products together ensures us to make the right choice in technology development. OpenLab is very important in generating realistic data for testing, verification and demonstrating new technologies and to accelerate readiness of new technology, says Mohsen K. Balov, Principal Researcher Drilling and Well Technology in Equinor.

The simulation engine is available online, but the infrastructure has a physical node as well located in NORCE’s offices in Stavanger. It is used widely by the industry and for educational and research purposes and most users are in Norway, U.S., Brazil and Canada.