Improved exploration and assessment

• Reservoir Rock characterisation – permeability and mechanical properties.

• Reservoir scale modelling – sophisticated numerical models based on FEM/FDM/PFC to simulate wellbore stability, production and performance of the reservoir.

Improved well construction

• Well casings – simulate condition of erosion and corrosion in casings to assess integrity of the well and predict problems.

• Well cement – develop or modify or validate existing and a new type of cement to enable extraction of resources from deeper and more complex geological conditions.

Enhanced Oil/Shale/Coal seam gas extraction

• Replacement of water with CO2 injection for hydraulic fracturing.

• Development of novel techniques to generate new fractures and enhance existing cleats in coal seams.

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR)

• Developing methods to inject CO2 into depleted/tight reservoirs for enhanced production.

• Use of stem injections.
• Test and validate new EoR methods

Improved sand management

• Test and develop new chemicals to assess their impact on controlling the production of sand which can be a costly and damaging problem in oil and gas wellbores.

Enhanced shale and tight gas extraction

• Identification of mechanisms that limit gas recovery.

Enhanced production from wells

• Nanofluids – we can test and develop new nanofluids to assess their impact on enhancing permeability and increasing production of oil and gas.

Enhanced geothermal energy production

• A better prediction of fluid flow systems in hot dry rocks.