Flow in porous media and enhanced oil recvoery
Dr. Dong’s fundamental studies on multiphase flow in porous media investigates the role played by capillary forces in immiscible displacement and the transport phenomena in various enhanced oil recovery processes. Dr. Dong’s research covers several areas of interest to oil companies, in particular heavy oil and oil sands recovery. His research lab is well equipped with various displacement apparatuses and instruments for petrophysical study, multiphase phase flow in porous media, heavy oil EOR research, and partially-scaled physical modelling for oil sands study. Research on enhanced oil recovery techniques include miscible/immiscible gas injection, ASP flooding, thermal recovery and solvent methods. Oil sands research is also aimed at SAGD conformance control and in-situ bitumen viscosity reduction. Newly initiated research for unconventional resources includes determination of shale gas dynamic desorption-diffusion parameters and transport mechanisms of shale oil. Research on greenhouse gas sequestration in depleted oil and gas reservoirs includes CO2 diffusion in water and oil saturated porous media, long-term fate of CO2 injected in geological storages, and injection strategies for sequestration.