This $555,274 project grant from the National Science Foundation's Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) supports research into the nanoscale physics of carbon dioxide utilization and storage in tight oil reservoirs. The Colorado School of Mines, in collaboration with Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, will investigate how CO2 interacts with oil at pore walls and gradients along walls modulate oil-CO2 transport through nanopores. Researchers will integrate bench-scale experiments, molecular and continuum simulations, and theories to study CO2-mediated oil flow and diffusion-driven exchange between nanopore-trapped oil and CO2 in fractures. Insights will be used to enhance an industry-standard reservoir simulator to model impacts on oil recovery and CO2 storage at the reservoir scale. The research advances nanoscale fluid dynamics and aims to help optimize CO2 sequestration and enhanced oil recovery operations with reduced uncertainty, benefiting the petroleum industry and society. The award period is January 15, 2023 to December 31, 2025.
Generated 1/6/24, 8:23 PM