The Subsurface Integrity and Mechanics Exploration Research Group (SIMERG) at the University of Utah excels in merging geomechanics, fluid dynamics, and reservoir studies to tackle critical geophysical challenges. We concentrate on GeoMechanics and Water Resources studies.
We strive to encode processes such as frictional response, fracture propagation, and poroelastic stress path under various stress regimes, focusing on the dynamics at both nanoscale and reservoir scales.
Our team, proficient in fundamental and applied research, specializes in reservoir geomechanics and the physics of friction and faulting. We utilize the Earth’s subsurface as a natural laboratory, using data from boreholes, surface monitoring, and seismic measurements to refine theories on reservoir integrity, flow processes, and fracture behaviors. Our techniques include advanced fracture modeling, big data integration, Bayesian analysis, and innovative shear slip potential assessments.
We are committed to developing long-term, low-risk CO2 storage site establishing and operation methodology, developing solutions for emerging challenges in geothermal energy, optimization of hydraulic fracturing operations, and sustainable long-term production.
We delve into water resources’ sustainable management and operations. We focus on pollution migration and soil and water contamination, developing in-situ treatment methods and mathematical models for pollution control, thereby contributing to sustainable environmental management.
We focus on developing sustainable water resources management tools, aquifer risk mitigation, and rehabilitation applications.
Our tool kit also extends to well engineering, emphasizing borehole design, drilling techniques, and the environmental impact of drilling activities.
