The storage capacity of underground gas storages in the Czech republic

Sources of natural gas are in most cases located in remote areas far from the places where the gas is utilized, i.e. especially developed industrial countries to which it is transported via pipeline. However, transit gas pipelines, which are transporting extracted gas to the consumers, have a relatively limited peak capacity, the transit supplies essentially have a stable character and are not able to cover increased seasonal or peak demands for gas in gas distribution networks. The solution of this problem is the main task for underground gas storages (UGS) that through the operative regulation maintain stability and reliability of the entire gas system. This article provides a general list of options that can increase the storage capacity of natural gas in underground gas storages and focuses on factors that influence the options of an individual UGS

Potential Unconventional Gas Plays in Mature Basin of the Czech Republic

The presence of unconventional resources has been proven in deeper parts of mature oil and gas provinces and coal basins of the world. In this context, it is worth to focus also on the prospects of unconventional gas production from within hydrocarbon provinces of the Moravian part of the Vienna basin. The estimation of hydrocarbon generation potential of Jurasic marls from the Mikulov Formation of the Czech part of the Vienna Basin was performed based on the Rock Eval pyrolysis

Testing of Sealing Elements for FIB Apparatus Designed to Liquidate Open Eruption by Drilling Tools

Petroleum and natural gas still have their place among the most important resources in many industrial areas. Their global consumption influences an increasing demand on the quality of drilling works and the efficiency of extraction. Nonetheless, even in this field of human activity, we can encounter exceptional events and accidents. One of the most serious kinds of accidents during exploration is the so called open eruption of extracted medium. The specific case of this accident is an open eruption caused by drilling tools when a working crew is not capable of securing drilling workplace. In order to solve this emergency situation, Main Mining Rescue Station Hodonin (HBZS Hodonin),in cooperation with researchers from Faculty of Mining and Geology at VSB -Technical University of Ostrava, designed and developed specialised apparatus DPRP (Drill Pipe Rescue Press), working designation FIB-1. This apparatus enables the liquidation of eruption by pressing the drilling pipe. The residual crack, which remains following the pressing, must be eliminated by sealing materials. This paper reviews the testing of sealing elements (materials), designed by our team, in residual crack of circle shape with help of hydraulic press MTS 816 Rock Test System

Výzkum kolektorských vlastností vybraných horninových vzorků z hlediska možné geosekvestrace CO2

Man-made CO2 emissions (the so called anthropogenic CO2 emissions) and their increasing trend can be, by some scientists, considered a serious menace for the sustainable development of mankind, and their reduction a prerequisite for the environment protection. Carbon dioxide is one of the most important gases that cause a greenhouse effect which warms up the earth surface as a consequence of a different heat flow between the earth and the atmosphere. Our laboratory measurements determined the porosity, permeability and grain density for clastic sedimentary rock samples which were drilled from an underground gas storage facility. Additionally, our results showed a reduction in porosity and permeability after a confining pressure was applied. We assume that this effect is caused by internal structure changes due to the repeatedly increased and decreased net pressure applied to the samples.Emise CO2 vznikající lidskou činností – tzv. antropogenní emise CO2 a jejich vzestupný trend, mohou být některými odborníky považovány za vážné nebezpečí pro udržitelný vývoj lidstva a jejich omezování za nezbytnou podmínku ochrany životního prostředí. Oxid uhličitý je významný z plynů způsobujících skleníkový efekt, který se projevuje oteplováním zemského povrchu v důsledku změn toků tepelného záření mezi zemí a atmosférou. Laboratorní měření poskytla hodnoty porozity a koeficientu propustnosti horninových vzorků, které byly odvrtány z podzemního zásobníku plynu. Naše měření vykázalo snížení kolektorských parametrů horninových vzorků, které bylo způsobeno změnou vnitřní struktury horniny díky opakovanému zvýšení a snížení tlaku na rostlou část vzorku

Study of Mechanical-Elastic Parameters of Reservoir Rocks with Respect to the Purpose of Permanent CO2 Storage

CO2 emissions are considered to be partly responsible for climate change. One of the available methods to reduce CO2 emissions is its storage in favorable rock structures, such as mined hydrocarbon deposits. Natural hermeticity is guaranteed with this reservoir structure. An increase in pressure conditions in the deposit, induced by long-term CO2 storage, can lead to the splitting of exposed rocks. It is therefore necessary to carry out geomechanical tests on available drill core samples. The presented article presents the results of laboratory research aimed at determining the mechanical-elastic parameters of reservoir rocks of a hydrocarbon deposit using non-destructive testing. The advantage of this method is the possibility of testing the given samples before and after exposure to CO2. The laboratory research carried out revealed significant differences in the measured mechanical-elastic parameters of the tested samples. Taking into account that samples of the consistent reservoir structure of the same deposit were tested, the necessity of detailed testing of geomechanical parameters arises. It was interpreted that the differences in mechanical-elastic parameters found by the research may be caused by differences in the lithological composition (for these purposes, XRD powder diffraction was implemented), or by mechanical disturbance given, for example, by fracture predisposed by structural-tectonic processes. Different humidity can also have an effect, or degree of saturation of the tested samples

Posouzení vhodnosti aplikace povrchově aktivních látek (PAL) pro potřeby zvýšení vytěžitelnosti ložisek uhlovodíků

This paper focuses on the field of enhanced oil recovery by means of a chemical flooding of oil deposit especially a surfactant flooding method. The main objective is the application of the aforementioned method at the Czech oil deposit Ždánice – Miocene which bears the crude oil of significant viscosity and gravity that does not allow conventional production methods to be used. We evaluated the performance of various surfactants in the laboratory environment by simulating oil recovery processes.Tento výzkum se zabývá problematikou zvyšování výtěžnosti ropy pomocí rozšířeného zavodňování chemikáliemi, z nichž je věnována největší pozornost povrchově aktivním látkám. Dlouhodobým hlavním cílem tohoto výzkumu je aplikace těchto metod v podmínkách české republiky, konkrétně na ložisku Ždánice – miocén, kde vlastnosti obsažené ropy, jako je viskozita a objemová hmotnost, neumožňují použití klasických těžebních metod. Pro vhodnost použití jsme v laboratorních podmínkách simulovali procesy probíhající při těžbě ropy za ložiskových podmínek a hodnotili vliv jednotlivých povrchově aktivních látek na výtěžnost těžké ropy

Preliminary geochemical modeling of water-rock-gas interactions controlling CO2 storage in the Badenian Aquifer within Czech Part of Vienna Basin

Prediction of hydrogeochemical effects of geological CO2 sequestration is crucial for planning an industrial or even experimental scale injection of carbon dioxide gas into geological formations. This paper presents a preliminary study of the suitability of saline aquifer associated with a depleted oil field in Czech Part of Vienna Basin, as potential greenhouse gas repository. Two steps of modeling enabled prediction of immediate changes in the aquifer and caprocks impacted by the first stage of CO2 injection and the assessment of long-term effects of sequestration. Hydrochemical modeling and experimental tests of rock–water–gas interactions allowed for evaluation of trapping mechanisms and assessment of CO2 storage capacity of the formations. In the analyzed aquifer, CO2 gas may be locked in mineral form in dolomite and dawsonite, and the calculated trapping capacity reaches 13.22 kgCO2/m3. For the caprock, the only mineral able to trap CO2 is dolomite, and trapping capacity equals to 5.07 kgCO2/m3.Web of Science7514art. no. 1086

Reconstruction of former industrial complexes and their utilisation in tourism – case study

In the context of industrially developed countries today, there has been an increased interest in so called ‘industrial tourism’, which aims at exploring technical monuments in a broad spectrum of tourist activities. This form of tourism used to be the domain of a handful of technical enthusiasts but nowadays it is gaining popularity among the broader public. In almost every town it is possible to find an industrial site or at least a few large objects, which, after the cessation of production, were left unused. Even though they are not listed as cultural monuments, these are often remarkable constructions contributing significantly to the local character. This paper contains an outline of the advancement in the conservation and utilization of industrial heritage in the region that currently finds itself in the postindustrial era. The issue of the development of the industrial heritage in the Czech Republic is based on the example of the industrial complex in the Lower Area of Vítkovice, which has been converted to the cultural and touristic part of the centre of the Ostrava - a city formerly known as the ‘Steel heart of the republic’. It is an example of the successful transformation of the facility that could be compared to the ‘European Route of Industrial Heritage’ or the transformation of the Ruhr region in Germany. A case study of a new utilization of Vítkovice Ironwork’s compound and other facilities can serve as an example for other towns and cities in Europe and beyond

Turismo industrial y desarrollo turístico sostenible

El desarrollo turístico sostenible satisface las necesidades tanto de los turistas contemporáneos como de las regiones anfitrionas y al mismo tiempo, protege y aumenta diferentes tipos de oportunidades para mejorar en el futuro. También da lugar a la gestión de ciertos recursos de tal manera, que satisfaga las necesidades económicas, sociales y estéticas (de orden social), manteniendo la integridad cultural, importantes procesos ecológicos, la diversidad biológica y los procesos que hacen posible la existencia humana (Organización Mundial del Turismo). Productos de turismo sostenible son aquellos productos que funcionan de conformidad con el medio ambiente local, la sociedad y la cultura, a fin de que el medio ambiente, la sociedad y la cultura obtengan beneficios de ellos; dichos productos no se deben convertir en víctimas del desarrollo turístico. En la actualidad tenemos la suerte de poder observar, especialmente en países industrializados, una amplia gama de actividades turísticas, así como un creciente interés en el llamado turismo industrial orientado en la exploración de monumentos técnicos. Inicialmente ésta forma de turismo era del dominio de un estrecho rango de turistas, interesados exclusivamente en cuestiones o temas técnicos, pero paulatinamente se fue abriendo en un tema de interés para el público en general. En el presente artículo se darán a conocer ciertos ejemplos de transición de complejos industriales como alternativa para la conservación y utilización de patrimonios industriales en decadencia, no solo en República Checa, sino también, en otros países europeos. Casi en cada ciudad se pueden encontrar zonas industriales o al menos un par de complejos industriales grandes, que después de haber terminado con su verdadera utilidad, han quedado con un uso inadecuado de sus instalaciones. Aun cuando no se trate de monumentos históricos importantes, a menudo son construcciones interesantes que le dan ese aspecto determinante al lugar donde se encuentran. El nuevo uso que se le ha dado al complejo industrial del área de la Zona Inferior de Vitkovice, es un modelo que puede servir de inspiración para otras ciudades y lugares con la misma problemática

The development of the industrial city Hodonín (Czech Republic) from the perspective of tourism // Zagospodarowanie przemysłowego miasta Hodonín (Republika Czeska) na potrzeby turystyki

This article deals with the development of tourism and the transformation of a small, but significant for its industrial past, Southern Moravian town of Hodonín and its surroundings. The history of the city is briefly summarized and put in context with the progressing industrialization of the region (production of lignite and hydrocarbons, followed by a significant reduction of industries and, consequently, resulting touristic activities). Specifically, the most attractive regional touristic activities, such as enotourism, cyclo-tourism and water tourism, are listed in this paper. In particular, cyclo-tourism is strongly linked with enotourism as most of the cycling trails (included into the Greenways network) pass through the best known wineries in the area, and they also form a functional system of communication routes with basic cycling trails in the Czech Republic. The progress in the development of water tourism is, by contrast, enabled by industrial advancements, where the Baťa Canal (an important technical monument) has been utilized as a waterway. Eventually, the Museum of Oil Mining and Geology in Hodonín attractively introduces the tourists into the history and present state of oil and gas production in the region.//Artykuł porusza problem zagospodarowania turystycznego i przekształceń zachodzących w mieście Hodonín i w jego otoczeniu. To niewielkie miasto, położone w południowej części Moraw,było w przeszłości znaczącym ośrodkiem przemysłowym. Autorzy przedstawiają zwięźle historię miasta i rozwój przemysłu w regionie (wydobycie węgla brunatnego i węglowodorów). Po okresie uprzemysłowienia nastąpiło ograniczenie produkcji, połączone z rozwojem turystyki. Szczegółowo omówiono najbardziej atrakcyjne formy turystyki w regionie: turystykę winiarską, turystykę rowerową i turystykę wodną. Pokazano ścisły związek turystyki rowerowej i winiarskiej, ponieważ większość lokalnych szlaków rowerowych (należących do sieci Greenways) prowadzi przez najbardziej znane w okolicy winnice. Szlaki te powiązane są zresztą z podstawowym systemem szlaków rowerowych Republiki Czeskiej. Natomiast rozwój turystyki wodnej umożliwiają dawne obiekty infrastruktury przemysłowej, takie jak np. Kanał Baťa, będący zabytkiem techniki, obecnie wykorzystywany jako droga wodna. Z kolei Muzeum Eksploatacji Ropy Naftowej i Geologii w Hodonínie wprowadza turystę w problemy historii i obecnego stanu produkcji ropy naftowej i gazu ziemnego w regionie