Micro and nano scale transport phenomena in porous media with applications to unconventional hydrocarbon resources

微纳(小)尺度的输运现象，如气体、石油或水在非常致密的地下岩石中的流动，在自然界、技术和科学中随处可见。小尺度流体输运机制是指微纳几何结构参与流体流动或由微纳米尺度物体产生的力驱动的流动。微/纳米传输现象的例子包括提高石油产量、土壤和水的化学就地修复、二氧化碳的地质储存、从非常致密的储层中生产天然气、微生物的迁移、纳米技术和微型化学反应器中的生物分析过程等。 这一建议支持页岩气储集层中天然气运移机制的研究，以及相关能源的表征。产气页岩是有机质含量较高的细粒沉积岩，可作为丰富的石油和天然气来源。由于粘土的含量，气体在纳米孔中发生解吸和输运。作为这项研究计划的一部分，我们将致力于了解页岩中的天然气运输机制，以及有机成分分布(称为干酪根)对这些机制的影响。此外，我们将研究气体通过页岩层的渗透率测量方法有多容易。这将涉及研究天然气分子大小和孔隙表面对页岩渗透率的影响。在这个项目中，我们将进行发现新现象的实验，开发纳米级流动的数学模型，并使用高性能计算机模拟这些流动。这种高度集成的方法被认为是发现控制纳米级流动的物理机制所必需的，所获得的知识可能对其他领域有价值。该项目还为培养高素质的研究生和博士后提供了良好的环境。

Micro/nano (small) scale transport phenomena such as flow of gas, oil or water in very tight underground rocks abound in nature, technology, and science. Small scale fluid transport mechanisms refer to the involvement of micro/nano geometries in fluid flows or flows driven by forces arising from the presence of micro/nano scale bodies. Examples of micro/nano transport phenomena include enhanced oil production, chemically based in-situ remediation of soil and water, geological storage of carbon dioxide, gas production from very tight reservoirs, migration of micro-organisms, bio-analytical processes in nanotechnology and micro-chemical reactors, and others. This proposal supports research on gas transport mechanisms in shale gas reservoirs, and the characterization of related energy resources. Gas producing shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks with a high organic content that can be rich sources of petroleum and natural gas. Because of the clay content, desorption and gas transport occurs in nano-pores. As a part of this research program, we will work to understand the gas transport mechanisms in shale and the effect of the distribution of organic content, known as kerogen, on these mechanisms. Furthermore, we will research how easily gases can pass through shale formations with measures of property known as permeability. This will involve investigating the effects of gas molecule sizes and pore surfaces on shale permeability. Within this program, we will perform experiments for the discovery of new phenomena, develop a mathematical model of nano scale flows and simulate these flows using high performance computers. This highly integrated methodology is believed necessary to discover the physical mechanisms that control nano scale flows and the knowledge gained can be valuable to other fields. This program also provides an excellent environment to train highly qualified students at the graduate and postdoctoral levels.