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Ismael Himar Falcon-Suarez

National Oceanography Centre, Universidade da Coruña, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences

ORCID iD 0000-0001-8576-5165
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About

I am Geologist with a PhD in Civil Engineering, and a MSc in Water Engineering. I combine wide-ranging experience in the hydro-geomechanical, geophysical and geochemical techniques, including data analysis methods, with a proven engineering background in developing CO2-brine multi-flow experimental setups.
Currently, my research's contribution is to reduce uncertainties and risks associated with CO2 injection in geological reservoirs. I am developing my own research project GASRIP (NE/R013535/1; http://projects.noc.ac.uk/gasrip/), primarily designed to study how CO2-brine induced-salt precipitation/dissolution affects geomechanical integrity of CO2 storage reservoirs. Furthermore, I actively work with (i) the NERC funded project CHIMNEY (NE/N016130/1), studying the distribution and permeability of fluid pathways in the sediment overburden overlaying potential CO2 storage reservoirs, and (ii) the EU Horizon 2020 project STEMM-CCS (H2020-LCE-2015-1).

BACKGROUND:
I started my research career in the University of A Coruna, where I was involved in the Thermos-Hydro-Mechano-Chemical study of the CO2 storage site of Hontomin, Burgos (Spain). There I developed skills in (i) hydromechanical analysis and geophysical monitoring of rock samples at the laboratory scale during single and multiflow testing (routine and special core analysis; advanced transport properties), (ii) the design and assembly of experimental rigs for simulating real P-T conditions of reservoirs, and (iii) software design for data processing and interpretation of results. Meanwhile, I was engaged in a number of projects for the oil/gas industry, gaining experience in assembling, running and interpreting a wide range geomechanical tests (advanced skills in the use of triaxial systems MTS Systems Corporation mod. 815).
Since October 2013, I have been a postdoctoral research fellow in the Marine Geoscience group at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS). During the EPSRC project DiSECCS (EP/K035878/1), I designed and assembled a novel experimental rig capable of simultaneously monitoring hydromechanical and geophysical properties of rock samples subjected to the co-injection of CO2 and brine at variable fractional flow rates and pore pressures at realistic reservoir conditions. In parallel, I designed several numerical tools, with the aim of (i) processing the raw data generated during the experiments (pre-processing applications), modelling the results using state-of-the-art theory and data analysis (rock physics numerical models), and (ii) interpreting processing and post-processing of information (post-processing applications). As a result, I commercialized the software FoMPeCa® (to calculate permeability in high and low permeability media from unconventional methods using pore pressure transitory states). All this allowed me to conduct an extensive programme of experiments, data analysis and interpretation, including insights into seismic, electrical and geomechanical properties; I have provided the CCS scientific community with valuable empirical relationships to identify the individual effect of pore pressure and pore fluid distribution during CO2 plume advance. Also, these results have been used to develop predictive numerical models to upscale laboratory results to field scale monitoring. The comprehensive databases and the relationships between variables generated during this set of experiments (over the last two years) are likely to have a significant impact in the detection of CO2 injection induced-pressure build-up in reservoirs, and the identification of the onset of geomechanical instability during CCS practices.

NETWORKING:
During my career, I have established strong links with other research groups in the CO2 storage field, including BGS, the Universities of Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds, Colorado School of Mines, University of Vermont, University of Utah, University of La Laguna, and with industrial partners BP, Statoil, IKON and Shell. Other strong international connections include the UDC (Spain), BGR (Germany), Oslo University and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Norway). I’m actively participating in the scientific and social aspects of CO2 storage both in the UK, via UKCCSRC, Clean Carbon community (University of Southampton) and G3 seminars at the host institution (NOCS), and internationally through IEAGHG social researcher network. My range of interests also extends to the analysis of elastic, mechanical and transport properties of seafloor rocks, with recent participations in the IODP Phase 2 grant NE/N012402/1 (with publication in GJI), and in the MARMINE scientific cruise to the AMOR (characterization of mineral resources on the Norwegian continental shelf, NFR/246637) managed by (NTNU).

Employment

  • National Oceanography Centre Research Seismologist Rock Physicist
    2013 - Present
  • Universidade da Coruña Postdoc research fellow
    2010 - 2013
  • Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences Scientific assistant
    2005 - 2005
  • Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra Jaume Almera Research and laboratory assistant
    2003 - 2006

Education

  • Universidade da Coruña PhD
    2006 - 2011

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (66)