News and Announcements

  • Video: Peter Kelemen (Columbia): Mineral dissolution & precipitation around boreholes injecting CO2-rich aqueous fluid

    We are happy to share on our Youtube channel, courtesy of the author, a recording of the 10/10/25 FISH talk by Peter Kelemen of Columbia U. / Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory: “Simple estimates of space & time variation of mineral dissolution & precipitation around boreholes injecting CO2-rich aqueous fluid for storage: Clogging, or not? (and some… read more…

  • New paper: Temperature influence on the stability and the viability of salt caverns due to creep phenomena

    New paper in the Journal of Energy Storage by a team that includes Prof. Ruben Juanes of ERL/CEE and alum Luis Cueto-Felgueroso (now at Polytechnic University of Madrid): “Polytechnic University of Madrid”. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352152X25025289 Abstract: This study investigates the viability of using salt caverns as large-scale storage solutions for green hydrogen, considering the effects of the… read more…

    A schematic view of a salt cavern facility for hydrogen production.
  • New paper: Enhanced Geothermal System Propped Stimulation >300°C: From Design to Implementation Phase I

    Recently presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition by a team that includes ERL/EAPS Research Scientist Nori Nakata: Enhanced Geothermal System Propped Stimulation >300°C: From Design to Implementation Phase I https://onepetro.org/SPEATCE/proceedings/25ATCE/25ATCE/D011S004R003/792009 Abstract: “This paper provides an account of the design, implementation, and operational insights from a first-of-its-kind Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) proppant stimulation… read more…

    Locations of Seismic Stations Surrounding the Newberry Volcano EGS Site.
  • New paper: STONet: A neural operator for modeling solute transport in micro-cracked reservoirs

    The journal Water Resources has published a new paper by a team that included ERL Postdoc Dr. Ehsan Haghighat and ERL Prof. Ruben Juanes: STONet: A neural operator for modeling solute transport in micro-cracked reservoirs Abstract: “In this work, we introduce a novel neural operator, the Solute Transport Operator Network (STONet), to efficiently model contaminant… read more…

    Flow diagram of the STONet system.
  • Assessing CO2 Migration Within Faults During Megatonne-Scale Geologic Carbon Dioxide Storage in Offshore Texas

    The journal Water Resources Research recently published a new paper by a team that included Lluís Salo-Salgado (a 2023 ERL PhD alum who is now a postdoc at Harvard), Josimar A. Da Silva (a 2020 ERL PhD alum who is now a Research Engineer at ExxonMobil), and MIT ERL/CEE Prof. Ruben Juanes: Assessing CO2 Migration… read more…

  • Congratulations to Dr. Ignacio Arzuaga García

    On June 12, 2025, Ignacio successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled “Mechanisms of Interaction Between Hydraulic and Natural Fractures in Shale Rocks”. His advisor was Prof. Herbert Einstein of ERL and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. read more…

  • What if it Works? Hydrogen Beneath our Feet with Brad Hager

    MIT Energy Initiative’s “What if it Works” Podcast features Prof. Brad Hager, former director of ERL and co-founder of GeoRedox. https://energy.mit.edu/podcast/hydrogen-beneath-our-feet/ As a clean energy source, hydrogen has shown to have a lot of potential. But when generated using fossil fuels, hydrogen production can have a large environmental impact—even if the energy source itself doesn’t… read more…

    Hydrogen beneath our Feet
  • Congratulations to Dr. Hilary Chang

    On April 28, 2025, Hilary successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled “Characterizing microearthquakes and shallow structure with dense array and optical fibers”. Her advisor was Dr. Nori Nakata of ERL and Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences. read more…

  • Congratulations to Dr. Daniel Ortega-Arroyo

    On April 8, 2025, Daniel successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled “Principal Slip Zones in Nature and Experiment and Their Role in the Earthquake”. His advisor was Prof. Matěj Peč of ERL and Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences. read more…

  • ERL/EAPS Professors Offer Geologic Hydrogen Seminar

    This term the MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences is offering a special seminar for MIT students taught by Professors Oli Jagoutz (director of ERL) and Matej Pec: 12.S591 “Seminar on Energy Transition – Geologic Hydrogen.” “Modern civilization relies on abundant and inexpensive energy. Carbon-based fuels currently supply approximately 60% of the 400 TWh… read more…

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