Dr. Sibani Lisa Biswal from Rice University will presenta seminar on Squishy Bubble Dynamics for Oil Recovery Applications.
Abstract:
The use of foam in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications is being considered for gas mobility control to ensure pore-trapped oil can be effectively displaced. In fractured reservoirs, gas tends to channel only through the highly permeability regions, bypassing the less permeable porous matrix, where most of the residual oil remains. Because of the unique transport problems presented by the large permeability contrast between fractures and adjacent porous media, we aim to understand the mechanism by which foam transitions from the fracture to the matrix and how initially trapped oil can be displaced and ultimately recovered. My lab has generated micromodels, which are combined with high-speed imaging to visualize foam transport in models with permeability contrasts, fractures, and multiple phases. The wettability of these surfaces can be altered to mimic the heterogeneous wettability found in reservoir systems. We have shown how foam quality can be modulated by adjusting the ratio of gas flow ratio to aqueous flow rate in a flow focusing system and this foam quality influences sweep efficiency in heterogeneous porous media systems. I will discuss how this understanding has allowed us to design better foam EOR processes.
Biography:
Dr. Sibani Lisa Biswal is an Associate Professor at the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice University in Houston, TX and leads the Soft Matter Engineering Laboratory. Dr. Biswal’s research focuses on the directed assembly of colloidal systems with magnetic fields, nanomaterials for lithium ion batteries, and the understanding and manipulation of microscale fluids for oil processes. She has a B.S in chemical engineering from Caltech (1999) and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Stanford University (2004). She is the recipient of an ONR Young Investigator Award (2008), a National Science Foundation CAREER award (2009), Rice U. Graduate Student Association Faculty Teaching and Mentoring Award (2012), and the Southwest Texas Section AICHE Best Fundamental Paper Award (2014).
Date & Time: Thursday, January 15th, 9:00 am -10:00 am
Location: ITW (1350) Room- Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center
2133 Sheridan Road (located next to Tech)
*Refreshments will be available at 8:45 am)
Iman Nasser
(847) 491-2773
Email