Research Infrastructure

Medical imaging for reservoir physics research
As part of the research group’ expertise on in situ visualization of multiphase flow in porous media, we have access to a range of state-of-the-art medical scanners through long-term and strategic partnerships. Below we outline each partnership with example publications included for each scanner:  

– At the PET-centre of Haukeland University Hospital four medical scanners are available and operated by the research group through external collaboration. These scanners include clinical PET/CT and PET/MRI scanners, and small animal PET/CT and PET/MRIscanners. The research group operate a physics laboratory located at the PET-centre, with a custom-made core analysis setup for H2 and high-pressure CO2 injection. 

– At Equinor research-centre in Bergen, Norway, a 4.7 Tesla MRI scanner has been used to study hydrate reactions and phase transitions in sedimentary systems. The set-up is currently focused on underground H2 storage.  

– At ConocoPhillips' Technology Centre in Bartlesville, USA, an MRI scanner and an industrial CT scanner have been widely used by the research group (and by more than 115 of the group’s students over the past 20 years, paid by COP) conducting research activities at a wide range of research topics. Particularly the MRI scanner for laboratory verification of storing CO2 in hydrates, with associated spontaneous methane production, leading to PCT-patents and a field pilot within a 9-year period. 

In-house microfluidic laboratory
Our advanced microfluidic laboratory enables reservoir research under realistic conditions, with temperatures up to 60°C and pressures up to 150 bar. Our microfluidic porous chips create a realistic two-dimensional porous system with representative pore-scale geometry. We utilize a Zeiss Microscope equipped with a fluorescence module and an automatic scanning stage for high-resolution imaging and automatic image stitching, ideal for in-situ visualization of fluids and microbes in artificial porous spaces under realistic reservoir conditions to study pore-scale effects. The scientific output directly from this laboratory in the reporting period is listed below. 

In-house core analysis laboratories
The group's core analysis facilities include standard and cutting-edge laboratories for a range of geoscience and reservoir physics research, enabling both routine and special core analysis.The Hydrogen laboratory enables research on hydrates in sediments and underground hydrogen storage through dedicated flow rigs and analytic capabilities. The CCUS laboratory has two operating core analysis flow rigs certified for CO2 and crude oils capable of performing high-pressure (up to 250 bars) and high temperature (up to 120ᵒC) injection tests. The flow rigs consist of Hassler-type core holders, mounted in heating cabinets with stainless-steel accumulators, pressure transducers, and high-pressure injection pumps. The laboratory also has a custom designed set-up for bulk CO2 foam studies at high temperature. Additionally, the laboratory has a professional fume hood to handle chemical and crude oil fumes. The research group also has well-equipped workstation computers that have capabilities of running advanced simulations and software packages. 

FluidFlower infrastructure
The newly developed FluidFlower concept links research and dissemination through a series of experimental rigs constructed by the research group that enables repeatable, meter-scale, multiphase, quasi-two-dimensional (2D) flow on model geological geometries with high-accuracy data acquisition. Recent research highlights and capabilities include an international validation benchmark study for carbon storage, digital twin technology, model verification, and the foundation for the 11th SPE Comparative Solution Project (www.SPE.org/csp). The SPE11 is the first CSP dedicated to carbon storage, currently with 44 participating teams.