Pore-Scale Transport towards Sustainable Petroleum and Environmental Resources Development
Presenter
Dr. Wen Song, Assistant Professor
Hildebrand Dept. of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
Abstract
Sustainable petroleum recovery requires fundamental understanding of the pore-scale fluid-mineral interactions that ultimately dictate multiphase transport through the subsurface. To understand transport dynamics in petroleum reservoirs, I develop novel real-rock microfluidics with geometric- and mineralogical-representation of geological media and use them to provide powerful direct, real-time pore-scale flow visualization of the fundamental pore-scale transport dynamics. In this talk, I describe techniques to develop real-rock microfluidics and engineering science advances made using real-rock microfluidics. Specifically, I present the first direct visual observation of crude oil/brine/mineral interactions in subsurface systems, discovery of a clay-stabilized Pickering emulsification mechanism, and application of the fundamental emulsification mechanism towards designing a method that improves hydrocarbon recovery by 8%. Looking forward, I describe my vision for leveraging real-rock microfluidics to advance engineering science knowledge in key subsurface opportunities for energy resources recovery.
