Labs

PVT and Surfactant Lab – PSL (PI: Russell Johns)

  • High-pressure PVT Cell (Schlumberger DBR)
  • High-accuracy temperature oven
  • Surfactant phase behavior pipette analysis for determination of optimum salinity
  • Doubly-distilled water source
  • High-accuracy viscosity measurement (ProRheo LS 300)

Unconventional Geomechanics Lab – UGL (PI: Shimin Liu)

  • Formation frac-ability test and rock strength tests: UCS, Tensile, shear strength
  • Rock static (E, n, K, M, l) and dynamics (p-/s- wave velocities and moduli) testing
  • Direct/indirect shear testing
  • Stress path testing – in situ stress evolution
  • Permeability testing under in situ conditions (P, T, strain-based boundary conditions)
  • Gas (methane, CO2, hydrogen) sorption isotherms for shales and coals
  • Fluid rock interactions: Shrinkage/swelling, shale-water interaction induced softening and straining
  • Gas diffusivity test for tight rocks
  • Pore structure quantification: Imaging, mercury porosimetry, SAXS, SANS

Waterless Fracturing Technology Innovative Center (PI: Shimin Liu)

Through collaboration with REI Drilling Inc (US), Cardox International (UK), and Henan Polytechnic University (HPU, China), the Center develops CO2 fracturing technology for creating complex fracture networks in low permeability formations. The application and field demonstrations include:

  • Multi-stage waterless CO2 fracturing for tight coal formations for coalbed methane stimulation and accelerated coal mine gas drainage (The team, HPU & PSU has very successfully implemented in more than 30 mines and treated for more than 3000 boreholes and wells in China and US)
  • Mining-induced stress relief for prevention of mine bursts and seismic events (implemented in western US mines)
  • Unconventional gas well skin removal through well CO2 blasting (implemented in CBM wells)
  • Unconventional gas well pre-treatment for complex fracture initiation for maximizing stimulation effectiveness
  • Deep mine stress management through pillar or highwall CO2 fracturing (potential application in deep mines in US, Australia, India, Turkey, South Africa, Canada, Chile, and Poland).