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EPA Underground Sources of Drinking Water Internship

Employer
Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education
Location
Dallas, Texas
Salary
The participant will receive a monthly stipend ranging from $3,924 up to $4,800 depending on degree
Closing date
Dec 18, 2021

Two research opportunities are currently available at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6 located in Dallas, Texas in the Underground Injection Control Section. 

The Underground Injection Control is responsible for administering EPA oversight of injected materials into the subsurface within region 6. Program responsibilities are mainly related to the protection of underground sources of drinking water. This opportunity will focus on the implementation of research and planned activities surrounding Class VI CO2 wells.

Research, compile, analyze and summarize data related to Class VI carbon sequestration permit applications. The selected participant will be involved in an interagency effort alongside state counterparts and EPA regions to characterize the specific geologic elements that lead to a successful Class VI permit application. The participant's analysis of previously submitted Class VI permit applications (both within and outside of Region 6) and previously accepted No Migration Petitions will inform improvements to EPA class VI guidance documents and crosswalks, leading to a more streamlined application process. Analysis and review may also include criterium development for adequate site geologic descriptions, permeability and porosity assessments, and possible reservoir modeling, characterization of CO2 reactivity with the formation at various stages of the carbon storage process and plugging methodology. The information gathered will be used to ensure the protection of underground sources of drinking water. The complex and extensive nature of Class VI projects allows for applicants from a broad range of disciplines, including (but not limited) to the following areas: geologic and physical sciences, engineering, and geologic reservoir modeling.

Learning Objectives may include:

  • Ascertain major geologic and modeling technical hurdles in permitting Class VI projects
  • Review and catalog common seismic behavior models used in Class VI projects
  • Characterize common permit application revision issues in moving from permit to construct stage to permit to inject stage in Class VI process
  • Characterize common approaches to quantifying effectiveness of containment layers (both underlying and overlying) for CO2 containment within the injection zone
  • Characterize approaches to quantifying vertical and horizontal flow behavior of area faults within a Class VI project.
  • Research impacts of variable CO2 waste stream compositions on permit modeling considerations.
  • Compare modeling considerations for Class VI permitting projects in an abandoned oil and gas reservoir versus a saline aquifer.
  • Identify technical lessons learned from stratigraphic test wells drilled for reservoir data in prospective Class VI projects.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 12/31/2021

After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.EPA.REG@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

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