Subsurface Energy

2018 ~ Present | DOE/NETL, AECOM, NSF ERC Center for Bio-inspired and Bio-mediated Geotechnics (CBBG)

Goals

Energy has become one of the world's biggest engineering challenges. Current carbon-based energy supply faces conventional reserves depletion and climatic hurdles. The goal of this project is to address enhanced subsurface energy recovery and associated environmental mitigation from a geoengineering perspective. The team will study fundamental hydro-thermo-chemo-bio-mechanical properties of geomaterials and pore fluids at elevated pressure and temperature conditions. The team will participate with the National Gas Hydrate Research Program, the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) Project, and NSF Engineering Research Center for Bio-inspired and Bio-mediated Geotechnics (CBBG).

Issues Involved or Addressed

Granular biomass flow characterization, bio-inspired drilling, new construction materials, flow in porous media simulation

Methods and Technologies

  • Laboratory Testing
  • Imaging and Image Processing
  • Numerical Simulation

Academic Majors of Interest

  • ComputingComputer Science
  • ComputingOMSCS synchronous
  • EngineeringCivil Engineering
  • EngineeringComputer Engineering
  • EngineeringElectrical Engineering
  • EngineeringEnvironmental Engineering
  • EngineeringMechanical Engineering
  • Other
  • SciencesApplied Physics
  • SciencesBiology
  • SciencesEarth and Atmospheric Sciences

Preferred Interests and Preparation

CEE/EAS/ME: Background in mechanics; interests in programming, image analysis, data processing.

CEE/EE: Experience in sensors and microprocessors, arduino, or raspberry pi, and code writing.

CEE/Bio/Phy: Background in microbiology, cultures growth; interests in imaging and image processing.

Meeting Schedule & Location

Time 
9:30-10:20
Meeting Location 
Mason 2253
Meeting Day 
Friday

Team Advisors

Dr. Sheng Dai
  • Civil and Environmental Engineering

Partner(s) and Sponsor(s)

DOE/NETL, AECOM, NSF ERC Center for Bio-inspired and Bio-mediated Geotechnics (CBBG)