Proiecte

National Projects (PN III)

DANS: Strategy and actions to prepare the national participation in the DANUBIUS–RI Project

Preparing the participation of Romania, as coordinator, in the development of the DANUBIUS-RI distributed pan-European infrastructure through the implementation of the Major Project of Structural Funds for the Romanian component of DANUBIUS-RI (Hub, Data Center and the Danube Delta Supersite).
The development of the Romanian component of DANUBIUS-RI has the following effects: the in-depth study of the processes that influence the evolution of ecosystems in wetlands – river, delta/lagoon, coastal areas and the sea under the influence of rivers; the development of a knowledge-based economy that will support sustainable economic growth in the Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea system, while protecting the biodiversity and the characteristic natural ecosystems; master’s, doctoral and post-doctoral programs in collaboration with universities across Europe; conferences, specialized training courses, workshops, summer schools, etc.; e-learning and ecological educational programs for the local communities;

CO2-Hybrid: Hybrid Solvent – Membrane for post-combustion CO2 capture and utilization

CO2-HyBrid is focusing on the demonstration of next level CCS technologies in major CO2-emitting industries. This will lead to a 20% more efficient CO2 Capture process compared to the state-of-the-art capture technologies. The main objective of CO2-HyBrid is the scale up and demonstration of a hybrid solution based on a membrane pre-concentration step and chemical absorption polishing step. Two membrane types, and two solvents will be used to produce two hybrid configurations to be tested in two test sites with different industrial gas properties (coal/natural gas fired power plant and Waste2Energy pilot installations). The CO2-HyBrid project aims to bring the membrane technologies and hybrid solution to TRL 6.

CO2-Hybrid will strongly contribute to the decarbonization of the energy system in a sustainable, resource efficient way, as membranes, in the first stage, have a very low footprint and their operation is sustainable as it has low energy consumption and no impurities in the main stream, in the second stage, chemical absorption process have a higher rate to capture CO2 with a lower thermal energy consumption for chemical solvent regeneration. Due to the separation of the impurities (dust, SO2, O2, etc.) in the membrane process, the degradation of the chemical solvents will be avoided.

OCEANROC: Spatial and temporal occurrence of the mid Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Events in the Romanian Carpathians and correlation with other Tethyan regions

The project focuses on the spatial and temporal distribution of Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs) in the Romanian Carpathians and their correlation with similar-aged successions containing OAEs in the Tethys Domain. To realize this project, representative successions covering the Baremian-Turonian interval in the Romanian Carpathians will be investigated. The main objective is to identify EAO1a (at the Barremian-Aptian boundary) and EAO2 (at the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary). The successions will also be investigated to identify the existence of oceanic anoxic sub-events, EAO1b, EAO1c and EAO1d, distributed in the Aptian-Albian interval. To realize this project, field investigations will be carried out in order to select representative successions and their lithologic/sedimentologic description. The successions will be thoroughly sampled and analyzed from the chemostratigraphic (d13C and d18O isotopes), micropalaeontologic, mineralogic point of view and in terms of paleomagnetism. These studies will highlight the spatial distribution of EOA in the Romanian Carpathians. In order to analyze the temporal distribution, cyclostratigraphic analyses will be carried out, allowing thus the highlight of the temporal distribution of the EOA in the Eastern and Southern Carpathians. The final objective of this project is to correlate the Oceanic Anoxic Events identified in the Romanian Carpathians with those in other regions of the Tethys Domain (in particular the Carpathian and Alpine areas).

PHASE 1 (04.01.2021 – 22.12.2021) – Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Middle Cretaceous Anoxic Oceanic Events in the Eastern Carpathians: carrying out a synthesis of the previous studies describing anoxic events in the Middle Cretaceous of the Eastern Carpathian Middle Cretaceous in order to select the working areas; identifying the representative sections of the Middle Cretaceous of the Eastern Carpathians, positioning and description of these sections; laboratory analysis of the geochemical, mineralogical, petrographical, sedimentological and micropalaeontological (calcareous nannofossils) samples collected from the Eastern Carpathians; interpretation of the obtained data and initiation of a database containing all the data obtained in the first year of this project for the studied sections in the Eastern Carpathians.

PHASE 2 (23.12.2021 – 28.12.2022) – Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Mid-Cretaceous Anoxic Oceanic Events in the Southern Carpathians:
analysis of published and in house papers on global anoxic events of the Middle Cretaceous of the Southern Carpathians to select the working areas; identification of the representative sections of the Middle Cretaceous of the Southern Carpathians, positioning and description of these sections; laboratory analysis of the samples collected from the Southern Carpathians; interpretation of the obtained data and completion of the database with all the data obtained in the second year of this project for the studied sections in the Southern Carpathians.

PHASE 3 (29.12.2022 – 28.12.2023) – Correlation of Global Anoxic Events in the Middle Cretaceous of Romania with other Tethysian areas:spatial and temporal analysis of the various global oceanic anoxic anoxic events and sub-events in the Romanian Carpathians identified in this project and comparisons with other Tethysian areas; results dissemination.

ACTiON: Advanced multitemporal modelling and optimisation of CO2 transport, utilisation and storage networks

The main objective of ACTiON is to establish how an efficient infrastructure, connecting CO2 sources with CO2 geological storage and non-geological utilization options, can be developed as part of regional decarbonisation efforts. ACTiON aims to research and develop a multitemporal integrated assessment model that will support stakeholders in the planning and design of large-scale, flexible CO2 transport, utilisation and storage networks. ACTiON will address geological and engineering constraints, the impact of economic conditions and regulatory environment, as well as the unavoidable uncertainties in defining them. A thorough understanding of the impact of flow phenomena on network design and operation is essential to de-risk the integrated operation by building in flexibility and resilience in response to operational changes in different parts of the chain. Will demonstrate the interplay between such issues by combining them into integrated component models for optimisation of transport, storage and utilisation networks. Complex subsurface and engineering features and processes, such as geological flow barriers, geo-mechanical constraints and well performance, will be implemented as modular computationally independent proxy models to provide the building blocks for integrated models. ACTION will consider networks that link multiple suppliers of CO2 to multiple injection wells and storage locations including depleted fields, saline aquifers and EOR. ACTION will aim to provide the building blocks and workflows for network developers, as basis for efficient design and safe operations. The multitemporal modelling capabilities will be applied to a number of case studies that cover approaches to CCUS network development in different EU Member States, the US and Canada. Pipeline and ship transport will be included, as will be networks of different complexity aiming to support the development of fit-for-purpose, future-proof CO2 transport, utilization and storage networks.

REX-CO2: Reusing existing wells for CO2 storage operations

Identifying the assessment criteria according to which a hydrocarbon well can be reused for CO2 storage in a technically safe and economically feasible way. GeoEcoMar is the coordinator of the work package “Legislative, environmental and social aspects” (WP6). This work package requires each of the six participating countries to analyze the provisions of their own legislation regarding the reuse of oil and gas wells for carbon dioxide storage. This analysis aims to identify the possible legislative gaps, which national regulatory authorities need to fill in order to make the reuse of wells possible.

ECOBASE: Establishing CO2 enhanced Oil recovery Business Advantages in South Eastern Europe

Establishing CO2 enhanced Oil recovery Business Advantages in South Eastern Europe (ECOBASE) project aims to develop prospective revenue stream models and business models for CO2-EOR in South Eastern Europe and support the large-scale implementation of CCUS in the region. The project is being carried out in three countries in South Eastern Europe – Turkey, Romania and Greece – with the support of TNO Netherlands and IRIS Norway. ECO-BASE will access the potential of EORStore through the following activities: carrying out an inventory of CO2 sources (potential capture projects) and reservoirs (potential locations for geological storage and for the use of CO2 for the purpose of increasing oil production with permanent storage) in Romania, Turkey and Greece; carrying out EORStore case studies as a reference for the assessment of EOR potential at national level; identifying and carrying out case studies for business plans and revenue streams achieved through CCUS; establishing national roadmaps for CCUS, with an essential role as an accelerator for CO2-EOR; organizing knowledge transfer workshops for CCUS stakeholders.

ALIGN-CCUS: Accelerating Low-carbon industrial growth through CCUS

The ALIGN-CCUS project aims to accelerate the transition of the current industrial and energy sectors towards a future in which their economic activities will produce low carbon emissions, in which carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) will play a key role. ALIGN addresses specific issues in the CCUS chain for industrial regions in ERA-NET countries, allowing for the large-scale implementation of the effective implementation of CCUS by 2025.

Management Support Project for the preparation of the Preparatory Phase – H2020 of the International Center for Advanced Studies for River-Sea Systems

The pan-European distributed infrastructure project “International Center for Advanced Studies for River-Sea Systems” – under the coordination of Romania – has reached an important point in its maturity. Thus, DANUBIUS-RI has received the status of a Flagship project in the EU Strategy for the Danube Region since 2013 and, most notably, has recently been accepted as an ESFRI project.

Thus, on March 10, 2016, in Amsterdam, with the launch of the ESFRI 2016 Roadmap, the Pan-European Distributed Infrastructure Project for Advanced Research in River-Sea Systems DANUBIUS-RI was one of the 6 newly admitted projects on the list of pan-European ESFRI infrastructures. This inclusion on the ESFRI list confirms, on the one hand, the importance of DANUBIUS-RI as a science, education and innovation hub and its degree of maturity, but on the other hand, it obliges us to continue its implementation at standards of scientific excellence and at a sustained and alert pace. Following the inclusion of DANUBIUS-RI on the ESFRI 2016 Roadmap, the European Commission (Directorate-General for Scientific Research and Innovation) decided to support the implementation of the project (development of the pan-European infrastructure) through a dedicated support project (INFRADEV 2-2016).

DANUBIUS-RI is thus the first pan-European infrastructure project that brings together specialists from all fields relevant to the study of freshwater and marine environments. The project is also the first to pay special attention to processes in transitional environments (deltas and estuaries). Both through its structure – and through its operating logic, DANUBIUS –RI will support the interdisciplinary research activities that will follow phenomena from the river-sea continuum – in a sequential way that will encourage interdisciplinarity (from observations, field measurements, to analyses, modeling and the integration of natural aspects with social and economic ones for the implementation of governance plans). In these aspects, the project is unique both in Europe and the world.

FLUVIMAR: Research of excellence in river-delta-sea systems for highlighting the climate change at regional and global levels

The project of excellence aims to engage GeoEcoMar in the global cooperation and competition in the research and development field by increasing its performance in the field of activity (geo-ecology of marine, deltaic and river systems) at the level of research departments and collectives, having the following results:

increasing the visibility at national and international level by publishing scientific articles in high impact publications and journals, participating in international scientific events that are significant for the research field, organizing scientific events having as topic the complex analysis of the Danube macro-geosystem – Danube Delta – Black Sea to be attended by personalities in the field from the country and abroad;
harnessing and disseminating the knowledge and research results in the scientific and private environment;
adapting the development strategy to the requirements and evolution of the research market, by understanding the internal and international influences and trends in which GeoEcoMar operates;
supporting the national competences within the research institutions that present relaunching opportunities in economic areas of interest for Romania;
planning the human, material, financial and informational resources available to GeoEcoMar, depending on the importance of the projects/contracts and the evolution of the market;
permanently raising the training level of the human resources, especially of young people, with openness to the new, so that GeoEcoMar can quickly and efficiently respond to beneficiaries;
introducing new research methods, required by the market and useful not only to research, but also to industry, academia, and business environment (eg new isotope laboratories, microbiology, etc.);
providing high-level technical assistance and scientific and technological services in the priority areas;
initiating and developing viable collaborations with partners from the public and private economic environment;
promoting the international cooperation programs by accessing all the offers specific to the field of activity;
accessing other categories of projects/contracts, domestic or international, both with state and private institutions (eg direct contracts with large companies in the energy industry, projects of UNESCO, NATO, IAEA, etc.);
widening the investigation area of Mare Nigrum marine research vessel in order to carry out scientific missions, not only in the Black Sea, but also in the Mediterranean Sea and other marine basins;
supporting government institutions to mitigate adverse marine trends, both scientifically and geopolitically;
multidisciplinary, complex approach of research and development activities through closer cooperation with the academic and research institutions in the field of activity, but also outside the field of activity.

uBioGas: Underwater geological structures and accumulations of biogenic methane – associated geochemical processes

Compared to the thermogenic accumulations, the biogenic gas accumulations occur under more predictable geological circumstances. Globally, it has been estimated that more than 20% of methane reserves are biogenic. In Romania, the interest in geological accumulations of biogenic methane has steadily grown over the last decade, so that the largest discovery, with estimates of accumulated methane values that would cover the entire domestic consumption needs for a period of 6-8 years, is the biogenic gas accumulated in the Domino structure in the Romanian Black Sea exclusive economic zone.
This research program contains three component sub-projects:
– Plio-Quaternary geological structures favorable to methane generation and accumulation in the Romanian Black Sea area;
– Determination of geo-biochemical parameters associated with geological structures within the geological context highlighted by project 1, in order to model 1D methane generating processes and build analogies for the generation and accumulation processes in the Plio-Quaternary sediment stack;
– The paleogeographic evolution of the studied regions, in the context of current and Quaternary environmental and climatic changes, their influence on the processes of methane generation and accumulation;
The project is an interdisciplinary one, involving researchers from the fields of geosciences (geologists, geophysicists, geochemists), natural sciences (chemistry, physics, biology), from almost all regions of Romania. The project is intended to capitalize on the Romanian research infrastructure at the Black Sea, but also to contribute to its further development by completing and updating the equipment necessary for research, in line with global technological developments, including the specialization of researchers for new technologies.