ROKBASE: DIGITAL ROCK VISUALIZATION AND EXPLORATION WEB APPLICATION

There have been significant amounts of fundamental characterization, analysis, and testing on cores from potential carbon storage reservoirs and seals. Currently, much of that work is publicly available but difficult to find. Repositories of core data exist, but they are not targeted to the needs of carbon storage modelers and researchers. Sorting through data to find relevant information makes it difficult and time consuming for researchers to find the data they need.

The Geoimaging Characterization Lab at NETL Morgantown has been building a digital core repository for approximately 10 years. Non-destructive computed tomography (CT) and core petrophysical data has been collected and provided to the public through the Core Characterization Technical Report Series (TRS) on the Energy Data eXchange (EDX). This data preserves a digital twin of cores information from DOE field labs, CarbonSAFE sites, and other cores prior to any destructive methods of investigation.

Still in the beta stage, the RokBase web application (https://www.RokBase.org) expands on the efforts of the Core Characterization TRS and EDX at NETL. RokBase is a virtual portal and tool that enables users to access, explore, and query available core and rock property data collected from carbon storage projects across the U.S. The application enables access to rock properties from advanced measurement techniques such as high spatial resolution elemental x-ray fluorescence, primary-wave, and magnetic susceptibility data from NETL’s core logger. In addition, multi-scale CT scans, coupled with core photographs, site location, and fundamental rock properties such as porosity and permeability are also incorporated as available.

The goal of the RokBase is to be a hub for core-related data and help the CCS community to easily explore and access data for their needs. Building from the NETL Core Characterization effort, we will be aggregating links to publicly available core property data into a single platform. This presentation will provide an overview of the current web application, underlying database schema, and the resulting research products. Discussion of nascent public collection efforts, and how to engage with the development team, will also be included.