Transport And Plugging Behavior Of Co2-Resistant Preformed Particle Gels In High Conductive Channels For Conformance Control,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Transport And Plugging Behavior Of Co2-Resistant Preformed Particle Gels In High Conductive Channels For Conformance Control, Adel Alotibi
Doctoral Dissertations
"Improving oil recovery is essential with rising global oil demand and declining production in mature fields. CO2 flooding has been widely applied as a major Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) method due to its effectiveness in boosting oil recovery while enabling safe carbon storage in the subsurface. However, in fractured and highly heterogeneous reservoirs, CO2 often flows through paths of least resistance, leading to early breakthrough or quick excessive CO2 production and leaving substantial oil in unswept zones or areas. Traditional in-situ polymer gels have been applied to control CO2 flooding conformance, their performance has been varied, …
Using Preformed Particle Gels To Control Transport In Geothermal Reservoirs: Mathematical Modeling,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Using Preformed Particle Gels To Control Transport In Geothermal Reservoirs: Mathematical Modeling, Philip Winterfeld, Baojun Bai, Yu Shu Wu
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
We are developing swellable Preformed Particle Gels (PPG), which can control preferential fluid and heat flow through fracture networks to increase the performance of EGS reservoirs. Part of this development is a mathematical model and numerical simulator to simulate PPG treatments by considering coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical effects, and gel swelling kinetics and plugging efficiency, from which an optimized gel treatment design and operation can be achieved. The starting point for our mathematical model is the TOUGH2-CSM formulation and code. The TOUGH2-CSM fluid and heat flow formulation is based on the TOUGH2 one for multiphase, multicomponent, and multi-porosity systems, with the latter …
Predictive Modeling For Optimal Gel Treatment Design In Brownfields Using Ensemble Machine Learning And Data Upsampling Via Generative Ai,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Predictive Modeling For Optimal Gel Treatment Design In Brownfields Using Ensemble Machine Learning And Data Upsampling Via Generative Ai, Munqith Aldhaheri, Baojun Bai, Mingzhen Wei
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Efficiently designed gel treatments play a vital role in extending the lifespan of brownfields through rejuvenating oil production. Recently, a three-mode mathematical methodology named the VCR approach has been proposed for designing effective treatments. To optimize this approach, it is crucial to determine the appropriate design mode systematically rather than relying solely on the intuitive judgments of field operators. This study introduces an advanced methodology for predicting the optimal design type of gel treatments using 12 reservoir and production variables. The methodology integrates ensemble machine-learning (EML) models with historical data from 65 field projects across 11 countries (1985-2020). The Random …
Identifying Potential Risk Areas Close To The Oil And Gas Pipelines Due To Subsidence In Qazvin Plain,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Identifying Potential Risk Areas Close To The Oil And Gas Pipelines Due To Subsidence In Qazvin Plain, Mahmoud Rajabi, Sanaz Vajedian, Ryan Smith, Neil Grigg, Hossein Nahavandchi, Mehdi Goli
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Surface displacement caused by natural and anthropogenic activities poses a significant risk to subsurface pipelines, particularly in areas experiencing subsidence. Stress and strain induced by deformation can lead to pipeline buckling and potential vulnerability. This study applies a multidisciplinary approach integrating interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) deformation analysis, well data, and geological context to assess the risk to oil and gas pipelines in Iran's Qazvin plain. The focus is on evaluating the impact of an unconfined aquifer, which has a lower risk of subsidence compared to a confined aquifer, on pipeline infrastructure. We analyzed multitemporal Sentinel-1 data collected between 2014 …
Visual Understanding Of Rock Wettability Distribution To Contact Angle Regions And Oil Displacement Patterns In The Silty Sand Reservoir Via 2d Pore-Scale Modeling,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Visual Understanding Of Rock Wettability Distribution To Contact Angle Regions And Oil Displacement Patterns In The Silty Sand Reservoir Via 2d Pore-Scale Modeling, H. Al-Ajaj, W. Al-Bazzaz, Ralph E. Flori, S. Alsayegh, H. Almubarak, D. S. Ibrahim, H. Al-Saedi
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
This study, conducted using a silty sand reservoir rock extracted from a Kuwait-producing oilfield, provides crucial insights into fluid distribution patterns and mineralogy, as well as wettability contact angle preferences. The method used for visual identification not only captures rock physics but also suggests effective oil recovery displacement strategies. Visual identification is presented using 2D image technology and a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Analytical data are presented from electron bombardments and backscattering reflections collected in the BSE detector. These analyses were used to characterize the various surface boundary morphology parameters of the silty sand mineral surfaces, including area, perimeter, mineral …
Investigation Of Dynamic Adsorption And Desorption Of Polymer Nanogel In Porous Media Through Microfluidics,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Investigation Of Dynamic Adsorption And Desorption Of Polymer Nanogel In Porous Media Through Microfluidics, Junchen Liu, Fuqiao Bai, Abdulaziz A. Almakimi, Mingzhen Wei, Xiaoming He, Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein, Baojun Bai
Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works
Understanding the transport and retention of elastic nanogel and microgel particles in porous media has been a significant research subject for decades, essential to the application of enhanced oil recovery (EOR). However, a lack of dynamic adsorption and desorption studies, in which the kinetics in porous media are seldom investigated, hinders the design and application of polymer nanogel in underground porous media. In this work, we visualized and quantified the transport and dynamic adsorption of polymer nanogel in 3D glass micromodels that were manufactured by packing glass beads in capillaries. Calibrating the linearity of fluorescence intensity to concentration, we calculated …
Re-Crosslinkable Particle For Conformance Control And Temporary Plugging,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Re-Crosslinkable Particle For Conformance Control And Temporary Plugging, Yifu Long, Bowen Yu, Baojun Bai, Thomas P. Schuman
Patents
The present invention generally relates to the composition of particle gels for conformance control, well drilling and well treatments. More particularly, this invention relates to swellable polymer particle gels that can re-crosslink, i.e., reassociate and self-heal, at subterranean conditions. These particle gels can be deployed to improve the conformance of water flooding of especially matrix bypass events (MBEs), that are also known as void space conduits. Moreover, these particle gels can be deployed for controlling the water production and increasing of petroleum recovery. The inventive particles can also be deployed as diverter for well stimulation.
Nontoxic High Temperature Resistant Hydrogels,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Nontoxic High Temperature Resistant Hydrogels, Thomas P. Schuman, Baujun Bai, Buddhabhushan Pundlik Salunkhe
Patents
Compositions of swellable non-toxic hydro gels and their use in conformance control are described herein. More specifically, the present invention generally relates to the hydro gels compositions that can be used to treat the oil reservoirs having high temperature and high salinity conditions. The compositions generally comprise a plurality of swellable particles having one or more crosslinkers interspersed within a polymer matrix. The compositions can also be used in biomedical, agricultural, fracking and similar applications wherein thermally-stable, nontoxic hydrogels are required.
Investigation Of The Transport And Plugging Behavior Of Preformed Particle Gels (Ppgs) In Fractures For Conformance Control In Carbonate Reservoirs,
2025
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Investigation Of The Transport And Plugging Behavior Of Preformed Particle Gels (Ppgs) In Fractures For Conformance Control In Carbonate Reservoirs, Abdulaziz A. Almakimi
Doctoral Dissertations
This study aims to systematically evaluate the performance of preformed particle gels (PPGs) in fractured carbonates mainly through a series of core flooding experiments. Carbonate reservoirs exhibit unique features of heterogeneity and pore geometry, while (PPGs) are known for their plugging efficiency, deformability, and dehydratable nature. The main goal of gel injection in fractured reservoirs is to place a gel pack appropriately into the fracture, diverting injected fluid to the oil-bearing matrix and reducing excessive water production. However, considerable dehydration of (PPGs) is possible at the adjacent matrix and within the fracture, which could lead to a filter-cake formation and/or …
Strategic Site Selection For Bio-Lng Plant In Indonesia: A Multi-Criteria Scoring Method Approach,
2024
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, West Java, 16424, Indonesia
Strategic Site Selection For Bio-Lng Plant In Indonesia: A Multi-Criteria Scoring Method Approach, Edma Nadhif Oktariani, Yuliusman Yuliusman
Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings
In Indonesia, the energy sector is still predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, with renewable energy, including liquefied biomethane (Bio-LNG), playing a limited role. Nonetheless, Indonesia has significant potential for Bio-LNG development due to its abundant organic waste resources such as Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) from palm oil mills. Having approximately 891 Palm Oil Mills in Indonesia and being spread mostly in Sumatra, this study aims to select a strategic location for a Bio-LNG plant that can enhance logistical efficiency and economic viability for the plant. This study uses Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodologies to assess potential sites based on …
Physics-Informed Heterogeneous Spatiotemporal Graph Neural Network For Reservoir Simulation,
2024
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
Physics-Informed Heterogeneous Spatiotemporal Graph Neural Network For Reservoir Simulation, Ahmed A.M.A. Abdullah
LSU Master's Theses
Reservoir simulation is the state-of-the-art method for predicting the flow of petroleum reservoir fluids in porous media. It provides an accurate and unbiased prediction of the performance of petroleum reservoirs under different operating conditions. Despite its advantages, reservoir simulation is computationally expensive; with typical full-field simulation models running for several hours. This limitation is worsened when simulating reservoirs with several equations for each cell, such as multiphysics or compositional reservoir simulation. The goal of this research is to provide a fast and accurate spatiotemporal machine-learning model that incorporates discretized governing mass balance equations for training. To achieve this, we propose …
Application Of Digital Rock Physics And Machine Learning To Improve The Understanding Of Fluid Flow Behavior Through Porous Media,
2024
University of Texas at Tyler
Application Of Digital Rock Physics And Machine Learning To Improve The Understanding Of Fluid Flow Behavior Through Porous Media, Md Irfan Khan
Mechanical Engineering Theses
Accurately estimating reservoir rock properties and understanding capillary trapping mechanisms are crucial for fluid storage and flow modeling in porous media, particularly for applications such as carbon dioxide sequestration (CCS) and underground hydrogen storage (UHS). This thesis presents a comprehensive workflow that combines machine learning techniques and pore-network modeling approach to predict petrophysical properties and assess the impact of microscopic pore structures on capillary trapping. In the first part, a convolutional neural network (CNN) framework is used to predict rock properties—such as porosity, throat area, and pore surface area—from micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) X-ray images. It has been observed that incorporating …
Developing A New Method For Brine Purification And Reducing Salinity Using Recycled Carbon Fiber,
2024
United Arab Emirates University
Developing A New Method For Brine Purification And Reducing Salinity Using Recycled Carbon Fiber, Fatemeh Bahaeddin
Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses
Brine water, defined as hot and high salt content water, can be produced in large amounts from water desalination. The potential environmental impacts of brine disposal were evaluated in several studies. Minor variations in water salinity and temperature can significantly influence marine ecosystems. Elevated salinity levels disrupt the osmotic equilibrium between aquatic organisms and their surroundings, which leads to cell dehydration. Various disposal techniques have been implemented recently, including surface water discharge, sewage discharge, deep-well injection, evaporation ponds, and land application. However, these brine disposal techniques are unviable due to their high capital costs and limited applicability. In recent years, …
Geochemical Evidence Of Drying During The 4.2 Ka Event In Sediment Cores From The Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico,
2024
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Geochemical Evidence Of Drying During The 4.2 Ka Event In Sediment Cores From The Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, Derek K. Gibson, Jonathan Obrist-Farner, Alex Correa-Metrio, Alejandra Rodriguez-Abaunza, Carlos Castañeda-Posadas
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
Tropical hydroclimate variability during the Middle and Late Holocene was investigated using geochemical indicators of local-scale precipitation and evaporation preserved in sediment cores from two sites in the Mexican Yucatán Peninsula. Scanning X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy data show generally decreasing precipitation trends during the Early and Middle Holocene. During the transition between the Middle and Late Holocene, geochemical evidence of reduced watershed erosion and increased evaporation indicate that a centennial-scale drying event impacted the region between 4.3 and 4.0 ka (kilo-anum; thousand years before present). These findings suggest that the 4.2 ka drying event, which has been previously recorded in Europe, …
Experimental Evaluation Of A Recrosslinkable Co2-Resistant Micro-Sized Preformed Particle Gel For Co2 Sweep Efficiency Improvement In Reservoirs With Super-K Channels,
2024
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Experimental Evaluation Of A Recrosslinkable Co2-Resistant Micro-Sized Preformed Particle Gel For Co2 Sweep Efficiency Improvement In Reservoirs With Super-K Channels, Adel Alotibi, Tao Song, Ali Al Brahim, Baojun Bai, Thomas P. Schuman
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
A recross linkable CO2-resistant branched preformed particle gel (CO2-BRPPG) was developed for controlling CO2 injection conformance, particularly in reservoirs with super-permeable channels. Previous work focused on a millimeter-sized CO2-BRPPG in open fractures, but its performance in high-permeability channels with pore throat networks remained unexplored. This study used a sand pack model to evaluate a micro-sized CO2-BRPPG under varying conditions of salinity, gel concentration, and pH. at ambient conditions, the equilibrium swelling ratio (ESR) of the gel reached 76 times its original size. This ratio decreased with increasing salinity but remained stable …
Development Of Novel Nanobiocatalysts For Enhancing Carbon Dioxide Capture,
2024
United Arab Emirates University
Development Of Novel Nanobiocatalysts For Enhancing Carbon Dioxide Capture, Merna Tarek Farag
Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses
The emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere cause a climate change that has devastating impacts. Therefore, reaching the net zero goal, which is the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emitted to the atmosphere and that removed from it, is critical for the future of our planet unless the net-zero goal is achieved soon, the impacts of climate change will continue to worsen, with severe consequences for ecosystems, human health, and global security. Achieving this goal requires a fundamental shift in the way we produce and consume energy, including the rapid transition to renewable energy sources with improvements …
Kinetics, Thermodynamics, And Biological Characterizations Of Hydrolysates Enzymatically Produced From Proteins Extracted From Microalgae,
2024
United Arab Emirates University
Kinetics, Thermodynamics, And Biological Characterizations Of Hydrolysates Enzymatically Produced From Proteins Extracted From Microalgae, Hebah Al Amodi
Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses
This thesis aims to explore the use of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-L (ZIF-L) as a support for immobilizing alcalase and its potency in producing protein hydrolysates. ZIF-L was synthesized at room temperature using an aqueous solution, and alcalase was immobilized through adsorption batch experiment. The successful immobilization of alcalase on ZIF-L was confirmed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The maximum adsorption capacity of alcalase on ZIF-L was determined to be 672.1 ± 5.5 mg g-1 at 40°C using an initial protein concentration of 5 mg mL-1. Adsorption equilibrium data suggested …
Optimizing In-Situ Upgrading Of Heavy Crude Oil Via Catalytic Aquathermolysis Using A Novel Graphene Oxide-Copper Zinc Ferrite Nanocomposite As A Catalyst,
2024
The British University in Egypt
Optimizing In-Situ Upgrading Of Heavy Crude Oil Via Catalytic Aquathermolysis Using A Novel Graphene Oxide-Copper Zinc Ferrite Nanocomposite As A Catalyst, Attia Attia, Ahmed Ashraf Soliman Eng., Mostafa Aboul-Fetouh Prof., Sayed Gomaa Prof., Tarek Aboul-Fotouh Prof.
Petroleum Engineering and Gas
Unconventional resources, such as heavy oil, are increasingly being explored and exploited due to the declining availability of conventional petroleum resources. Heavy crude oil poses challenges in production, transportation, and refining, due to its high viscosity, low API gravity, and elevated sulfur and metal content. Improving the quality of heavy oil can be achieved through the application of steam injection, which lowers the oil’s viscosity and enhances its flow. However, steam injection alone falls short of meeting the growing demand for higher-quality petroleum products. Catalytic upgrading is therefore being investigated as a viable solution to improve heavy oil quality. This …
Spatial And Temporal Variations Of Seismic Azimuthal Anisotropy Following The 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence In Southern California,
2024
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Spatial And Temporal Variations Of Seismic Azimuthal Anisotropy Following The 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence In Southern California, Yan Jia, Stephen S. Gao, Kelly H. Liu
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
To investigate the spatial and temporal variations of seismic azimuthal anisotropy in the vicinity of the conjugate fault network activated by the 4 July 2019 (UTC) M6.4 foreshock and the 6 July 2019 M7.1 mainshock in Ridgecrest, California, a total of 1,470 shear wave splitting measurements were obtained from local events recorded by five seismic stations over the period of July 2019 to January 2020. The results suggest a strong asymmetry in anisotropy forming mechanisms across the NW-SE striking Eastern Little Lake Fault, which is the main fault of the area. In the area located to the northeast of the …
Topography Of The 410 And 660 Km Discontinuities Beneath The Tibetan Plateau And Adjacent Areas,
2024
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Topography Of The 410 And 660 Km Discontinuities Beneath The Tibetan Plateau And Adjacent Areas, Zexin Miao, Stephen S. Gao, Muchen Sun, Kelly H. Liu
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works
To investigate the three-dimensional spatial distribution of subducted oceanic slab segments and their consequential effect on the thermal and hydrous composition of the mantle transition zone (MTZ) beneath the entire Tibetan Plateau, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of approximately 655,000 P-to-s receiver functions (RFs), obtained from 735 broadband seismic stations. These RFs were utilized to delineate the 410 km (d410) and 660 km (d660) seismic discontinuities, which represent the upper and lower boundaries of the MTZ, respectively. The RFs were grouped within circular bins with a radius of 1 degree and stacked to image the discontinuities. The mean apparent depths …
