AEC Funded Projects 2008 |
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project no. |
Location |
PI(s) |
title |
Short Desciption |
Co-PI(s) |
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| BEG08-013 | Boston University |  |
Doerrer, Linda |
Integrated fundamental and applied studies of nanoparticles to probe reservoir rock | Develop paramagnetic iron- and vanadium-based metal oxide particles functionalized by organic ligands to act as contrast agents; approach is to enable quantification of the partition between water and oil-based phases using MRI for using enhanced sensitivity. |  |
Szleifer, Igal |
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Wong, Joyce |
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BEG08-015 BEG08-028 |
Boston University University of Texas at Austin |
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Goldberg, Bennett |
Graphene membranes as micro- and nano- pressure sensors | Joint project with Ruoff (Univ. TX) uses novel graphene membrane(s)-based micro- and nano-mechanical sensor to record pressure. | ||
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Ruoff, Rod |
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| BEG08-016 | Boston University |  |
Grinstaff, Mark |
Downhole Li-ion Batteries Based on Network Ionic Liquids for Powering Micro and Nanosensors | New Lithium ion-based battery that is non-volatile, non-flammable, and thermally stable (>300°C) to power micro- and nanosensors. Most Li batteries are unstable above 75°C and the electrolytes used are flammable and volatile. | ||
| BEG08-012 | Harvard University |  |
Crozier, Kenneth |
High Resolution Fluidic Measurements with an Optical Laboratory-on-a-Chip | Transport study (laboratory-on-a-chip) designed to better understand the complex fluid dynamics that takes place in inter-well pore spaces. The properties of fluids flowing through networks of microfluidic channels will be measured by integrated diffractive optical elements. | ||
| BEG08-018 | Harvard University |  |
Loncar, Marko |
Diamond Nano- and Micro-sensors for Hydrocarbon Detection | Sensors designed to advantage of the unique optical, mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of functionalized diamond nanocrystals. | ||
| BEG08-027 | Harvard University |  |
Weitz, David |
Smart nanocapsules to monitor and control fluid structure and flow in reservoirs | Develop a new class of materials, dubbed smart nano-capules (SNaCs) that can both monitor and control the flow of fluids in reservoirs at pore to near reservoir length scales. | ||
| BEG08-025 | Louisiana State University |  |
Thompson, Karsten |
Relating the transport behavior of nano sensors to rock structure and fluid flow properties in geologic formations | Fundamental transport study integrating three research tools - x-ray microtomography (XMCT), image-based modeling, and hi res particle imaging. Goal is to establish the quantitative relationships between the observed flow behavior of nanosensors in the subsurface and relevant reservoir properties, such as porosity, permeability, pore-size distributions, etc. |  |
Willson, Clinton |
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Nikitopoulos, Dimitris |
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| BEG08-010 | Northeastern University |  |
Busnaina, Ahmed |
Development of Multifunctional Chemical Sensor Based on Highly Organized SWNT Networks | A micro-scale SWNT-based FET chemical sensor array modified to be sensitive to analytes, such as H2S. Project includes characterization at high temps and pressures and explores tracking sensor using RFID-like technologies. |  |
Jung, Yung Joon |
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Somu, Sivasubramanian | ||||||
| BEG08-006 | Pennsylvania State University |  |
Sen, Ayusman |
Micro/Nanobots for Advanced Oil Recovery | Directed mobile micro and nanobots that can be employed for advanced oil recovery by mapping out the oil-water interface and releasing specific chemicals which can be detected in the aqueous phase, thereby signaling the presence of oil. | ||
| BEG08-001 | Rice University |  |
Barron, Andrew |
Magnetic Contrast Agents for Fracture & Reservoir Imaging | Incorporating novel paramagnetic nanoparticles into proppant structures could revolutionize current oil field injection projects by giving reservoir engineers the ability to map the fracture efficacy using detectable contrast agents. Implementation requires modeling and simulation, synthesis, integration, optimization and trials. |  |
Potter, David K. |
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Skala, Robert D. | ||||||
| BEG08-004 | Rice University |  |
Pasquali, Matteo |
Stabilization, Mobility, and Propulsion of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) in Model Oil Reservoir Environments | Study how the shape and surface stabilization of encapsulated single-walled nanotubes (E-SWNTs) controls the transport in constrained environments (porous media & oil-water interfaces) and use results to optimize encapsulation chemistry. | |
Barron, Andrew R. |
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Ball, Zachary |
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| BEG08-007 | Rice University |  |
Tour, James |
Nanobots-Sensors for Oilfield Exploration | Synthesize "Nanobots" - functionalized single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) that will provide chemical and environmental information about the reservoir upon interrogation. |  |
Wong, Michael |
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Tomson, Mason |
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Kan, Amy | ||||||
| BEG08-011 | Rice University |  |
Colvin, Vicki |
Modeling and Synthesizing High Mobility Nanoparticles for Advanced Oil Recovery | Develop an experimentally informed graphical and versatile model that can describe engineered nanoparticle transport and partitioning in a number of relevant reservoir matrices (from porous rock to fine clays to coarse sands). |  |
Abriola, Linda |
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Pennell, Kurt |
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| BEG08-023 | Rice University University of Texas at Austin |
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Schmidt, Howard
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Nano Magnetic Imaging for Reservoir Illumination | Determine the optimal transmitter/receiver configurations and develop approaches for signal inversion and imaging of paramagnetic micro and nano-particles. Will evaluate a number of alternative transmitter and sensing schemes (single borehole, borehole-to-surface, and borehole-to-borehole). | |
Wilson, Gary R. |
| BEG08-014 | University of Michigan |  |
Gianchandani, Yogesh |
A Microdischarge-Based Pressure Sensor for Extreme Environments | A very low power microsensor which utilizes microscale discharges to determine a wide range of pressures in harsh environments. |  |
Wright, Scott |
| BEG08-022 | University of Oklahoma |  |
Resasco, Daniel |
Interfacially Active SWNT/silica nano-hybrids | Synthesize tailored nano-hybrid systems based on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) intimately linked to silica nanoparticles, which in turn act as vehicles for catalytically active species. Experimentally refine functionalization schemes using core flood setups. |  |
Harwell, Jeffrey |
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Shiau, Benjamin |
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| BEG08-003 | University of Texas at Austin |  |
Huh, Chun |
Determination of Oil Saturation in Reservoir Rock Using Paramagnetic Nanoparticles and Magnetic Field | Project to synthesize detectable nanoparticles that can adsorb predictably and preferentially to the oil/water interface, enabling mapping of bypassed oil. Potential to enable fluid saturation determination with greater penetration than MRI or NMR. |  |
Johnston, Keith |
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Milner, Tom |
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| BEG08-009 | University of Texas at Austin |  |
Bryant, Steve | Controls on Transport of Nano Structures in Sedimentary Rocks | Transport study of functionalized nanoparticles through sandpacks, mesoporous thin films and core scale reservoir sedimentary rocks. | |
Johnston, Keith |
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Baran, Jimmie
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| BEG08-019 | University of Texas at Austin |  |
Neikirk, Dean |
Near Borehole Condition Sensing | Team is developing low-cost, near-borehole detectable, resonant sensors using engineered semiconductor coated nanowires. |  |
Korgel, Brian |
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Ekerdt, John |
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| BEG08-020 | University of Texas at Austin |  |
Nguyen, Quoc |
Characterization of Functionalized Nanoparticle Transport in Flow Through Permeable Media | Aim is to develop the ability to control the stability of nanostructures; characterize the adsorption of the nanoparticles onto oil-water and fluid-rock interfaces and evaluate the influences on surface tension, wetting and spreading; evaluate the mobility of nanoparticles and nanofluids in single-phase and multi-phase flow, first in sandpacks and then in reservoir rocks. |  |
Lake, Larry |
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Miranda, Caetano | ||||||
| BEG08-017 | University of Texas at Austin |  |
Javadpour, Farzam |
Dispersion of Passive and Self-propelled Micro- and Nano-particles in Porous Media Saturated with Single Phase and Multi-phase Fluid(s) | Understand transport of synthetic micro- and nanoparticles, passive and/or self-propelled through porous media using experiments and mathematical modeling. Research team is developing macro- and pore-scale models. |  |
Milliken, Kitty |
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Jeje, Ayodeji |
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Amrein, Matthias |
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