Transforming Science into Scalable Energy Solutions

Understanding transport phenomena in porous media—encompassing fluid flow, mass transfer, and heat transfer—is essential for optimizing various natural and engineered processes, including enhanced oil recovery, CO₂ sequestration, and water treatment. Our research focuses on bridging the gap between pore-scale physical mechanisms and macro-scale predictions through a combination of experimental studies and computational modeling. We employ core flooding systems, microfluidic visualization, CT imaging, pore network modeling, and CFD simulations to investigate complex transport behaviors such as coupled thermal and solutal dispersion, hydrodynamic interactions, and viscous fingering. We aim to enhance predictive accuracy and develop innovative solutions for improving fluid and thermal transport efficiency across diverse energy and environmental applications.

Electromagnetic (EM) and acoustic (US) wave technologies offer innovative solutions to the challenges of heavy oil and bitumen production. By utilizing electroacoustic energy, these methods reduce viscosity, enhance oil mobility, and improve flow properties, making them particularly valuable for underutilized heavy oil reserves. Our research focuses on applying and validating these technologies, using advanced experimental setups like core flooding systems and acoustic wave generators. These methods show significant potential for improving recovery efficiency and enabling in situ upgrading of heavy oil.

Our research focuses on advancing Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques to address the challenges of producing heavy oil and bitumen from high-viscosity reservoirs. These resources hold significant potential for global energy security but require innovative methods to overcome the limitations of conventional recovery. Our work covers diverse approaches, including nanoparticle-assisted recovery, acoustic stimulation, and hybrid thermal-chemical and solvent methods, all aimed at improving oil mobility and sweep efficiency. With advanced experimental setups such as core flooding systems, CT imaging, and microfluidic devices, we validate these techniques under realistic reservoir conditions.

Tight oil reservoirs present significant challenges due to their low permeability and complex pore structures, requiring advanced recovery strategies beyond conventional methods. Our research focuses on developing and optimizing Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques such as gas injection, chemical flooding, and thermal methods to improve hydrocarbon production and ensure long-term energy sustainability. Through advanced modeling and experimental studies, we investigate permeability heterogeneity, relative permeability hysteresis, and gas slippage effects to refine recovery processes. Utilizing digital core analysis, CT scanning, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, we enhance pore-scale characterization and reservoir simulation. By integrating experimental findings with advanced modeling, our work aims to develop efficient, scalable, and sustainable EOR strategies for tight oil reservoirs.

CO₂ sequestration in geological formations, such as saline aquifers and depleted reservoirs, offers a critical solution for mitigating climate change by securely storing large volumes of carbon dioxide and preventing atmospheric emissions. Our research addresses key challenges, including CO₂'s low viscosity under supercritical conditions, the need for accurate modeling of diffusion and trapping mechanisms, and the risks of leakage and rapid spreading. Additionally, our work explores innovative applications of CO₂, including its dual role as a working fluid in geothermal loops and its use as a solvent in Cyclic Solvent Injection processes for heavy oil and tight reservoirs. By integrating experimental findings with cutting-edge modeling, we aim to enhance the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of CO₂ sequestration while contributing to global energy and climate goals.

Utilizing the Earth's natural heat as a renewable and sustainable energy source to meet the world's energy needs while reducing environmental effects is the main goal of geothermal research. By investigating new technologies and refining geothermal systems, our team develops solutions for current challenges in this area. Creating models of thermal conductivity, reusing wells for geothermal purposes, and improving closed-loop/open-loop system designs are important research topics. To increase efficiency and realize the full potential of geothermal energy, our study combines experimental approaches and advanced modeling.