Our goal is a scientific understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological subsurface processes from the very small scale to the very large scale so that we can predict the behavior of CO₂ and other byproducts of the energy production that may need to be stored in the subsurface (Figure 1). At this aim, we need to integrate and expand our knowledge of subsurface phenomena across scientific disciplines using both experimental and modeling methodologies to better understand and quantify the behavior at conditions far from equilibrium. The unique aspect of our research is the approach of the uncertainty and of the complexity of the fluids in the geologic media from the molecular scale to the basin scale and their integration in computational tools to better predict the long term behavior of subsurface energy byproduct storage.

Figure 1.  Subsurface phenomena across the scales.

The Center for Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering (CPGE) at The University of Texas at Austin  manages and operate the CFSES with a close collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). CFSES pulls strategic partnership with The Institute of Computational Engineering and Sciences (ICES), the Cockrell School of Engineering (CSE), and the Jackson School of Geosciences (JSG). 

The collaborative and partnership between The University of Texas and Sandia National Laboratory has given rise to four focus areas of research:

• Focus Area 1: Coupled physical and biogeochemical complexity at the subpore scale. Project Leaders: Phillip Bennett and Susan Altman
• Focus Area 2: Multiphase reactive flow and mechanics at pore to continuum scale. Project Leaders: Steven Bryant and Thomas Dewers
• Focus Area 3: Coupled mechanics, reactions, flow, and transport at the continuum to field scale. Project Leaders: Sanjay Srinivasan and Sean McKenna
• Focus Area 4: Simulation of multiscale, multiphysics, heterogeneous systems.  Project Leaders: Todd Arbogast and Mike Stone