Anna Kottsova

Young specialist in Petroleum Engineering with profound knowledge of physical-chemical processes in the reservoirs. Some research interests are injectivity decline in geothermal wells, mineral precipitation in porous media and reactive transport – experimental and numerical modeling. Have diverse skills due to wide educational background and variety of internships. Keen learner and aspiring scientist.

  • Ph.D. Candidate, ETH Zurich, Switzerland – TU Delft, The Netherlands (2021 – )
  • MSc Petroleum Engineering at Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
    (Sep 2018 – June 2020)
  • BSc Chemical Engineering at Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas
    (Sep2014 – June 2018)

Project Title: Precipitation in porous media: effect on the efficiency of geothermal operations

Host Institutions: ETH Zurich, TU Delft, Veegeo Sproule Geothermal

Supervisory Team: Maren Brehme, Martin O. Saar, David F. Bruhn, Pacelli L.J. Zitha

Start date: 1.5.2021

ESR01 Objectives:

The main goal of this research is to study the effect of mineral precipitation in the reservoir rock due to fluids incompatibility on the efficiency of geothermal operations. This effect will be studied with the help of CT-assisted core flooding experiments, supported by reactive transport modeling. The aim is to determine the location of precipitation and permeability evolution of the rock over time as well as to investigate the permeability restoration processes afterward.

Research Update

The core-flooding setup, aimed at the in-situ study of the precipitation process has been designed. In order to perform the experiments in the XRCT scanner, a 3D-printed core holder has been designed and prepared. We are currently assembling the full setup, preparing for conducting the experiments and anticipate them to be completed in the upcoming months.

Prior to the experiments, a reactive transport model was designed, replicating the experimental conditions. The kinetics of the chemical reaction is assessed with the help of Reaktoro and the transport equations are solved with the finite volume solver FiPy. This model was used to select the optimal parameters for the laboratory experiment.

In addition, a review paper “Mechanisms causing injectivity decline and enhancement in geothermal projects” in collaboration with Wen Luo (ESR02) has recently been published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews .

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