UNSW is at the forefront of research in the next generation of reservoir engineering. We combine multiscale experiments and modelling of rock behaviour under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions with applications to:
- Unconventional reservoirs
- Geothermal energy
- Thermal storage
- Blue hydrogen
- CO2 sequestration
- Unconventional gas/oil
Our Competitive Advantage
- Advanced physical model for rock characterisation at high temperature and high pressure capable of tackling problems from the laboratory to reservoir scales
- Unique physics-based approach aiming at forward predicting instabilities such as fracture network formation, fault reactivation and sand production
- Tightly coupled parallelised numerical framework on supercomputers
- Next generation geomechanical modelling and analysis
Recent Research Projects
- UNSW strategic funding on this unique advanced capability in Australia through a 5-year SPF01 funding to Prof. Klaus Regenauer-Lieb.
- Three Australian research centre discovery projects starting in 2017 and 2020 to further develop the technology.
Successful Applications
- Modelling sand production at reservoir scale in collaboration with OilSearch to optimise production and minimise sand production risk in Papua New Guinea.
- Improved models of rock behaviour at high temperatures and pressures for deep drilling and understanding of reservoir formation and production.
- Controlled Coupled Cracking protocol for soft stimulation of geothermal reservoirs
Facilities & Infrastructure
- 4D X-Ray microscopy and NMR research laboratory
- Multiscale GeoEngineering laboratory
- Machine learning laboratory
- Future energy and minerals laboratory
- Exploration & basin dynamics
