Current Research

-         Thermodynamics and ecology of near-future human existence on the Earth399

-         Energy flow in human activities, sustainability, renewability, biofuels

-         Micro-scale (~1cm³) transport and mechanical properties of natural rocks: development of electronic core lab.

-         Calculations of relative permeabilities and capillary pressures in drainage and imbibition, and in two- and three-phase flow of immiscible fluids.

-         Micro-scale depositional models of sedimentary rocks: pore space reconstruction from Discrete Element depositional and compaction models with cementation, from 3D micro-focused CT images, and from statistical models based on 2D thin sections.

-         Micro-scale rock damage: Discrete Element simulations of bi- and tri-axial rock compression experiments, generation and coalescence of microcracks, development of fractures.

-         Strictly hyperbolic continuum relative permeability models in three-phase flows of immiscible fluids.

-         Continuum non-equilibrium models of counter- and co-current imbibition, spontaneous and forced.

-         Continuum models of damage evolution in almost impermeable, fragile rocks.

-         Development of stabilized finite-element algorithms to model two- and three-phase flow of multi-component fluids, with application to problems involving shocks and boundary layers.

-         Optimal control of fluid injection into low-permeability rocks through growing hydrofractures and with increasing rock damage; well testing.

-         Cradle-to-grave supervisory control of oilfield projects, satellite radar interferometry (InSAR) imaging, smart process-based controllers.

-         Imaging of hydrofracture growth through extended hydraulic impedance methods.

-         Simplified models of contaminant transport in the subsurface, policy issues with MTBE plumes.