Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

Committee Chair

Ebrahim Fathi

Committee Member

Sam Ameri

Committee Member

Kashy Aminian

Abstract

Carbon Capture and sequestration (CCS) is a critical way for the decarbonization of power and industrial sectors. The Tri-State area between West Virgina, Ohio and Pennsylvania are a diverse region with various CO₂ sources, deep saline, depleted reservoirs, pipeline network, and the midstream infrastructure that makes it possible for Captured CO₂ to be safely and economically moved and stored over long periods of time. This project addresses the need for an integrated optimization framework that includes CO₂ sources to potential storing sites using a transportation network design and a subsurface model that secures storage and minimizes leakage risk.

The model is developed using data from legacy wells in the study area due to the lack of project-specific data in the meantime. The goal of compiling these data is to get structure maps, porosity, permeability, and pressure-temperature conditions to first statically model the study area. After that, dynamic data is input to create a dynamic model that can simulate injection. The output of these simulations will give us an idea of the storage characteristics like storage capacity, pressure distribution, CO₂ plume migration, and potential leakage indicators.

The goal of this project is to is to deploy Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) infrastructure in the Tri-State Hub area of West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to establish a cost-effective and practical decarbonization strategy. It is necessary to account for the impact of high capital costs, distance between emissions sources and storage sinks, and the regulatory landscape to successfully deploy a CCS network in the region. The aim of this study is to optimize the capture and storage of CO₂ in the area by integrating technical, economical modeling with a policy analysis.

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