We integrate application-oriented and basic research to enhance the understanding towards a sustainable use of Georesources. This emphazises a balanced approach to scientific innovation and societal needs, ensuring efficient resource management of raw materials and sustainable energy solutions.
Our applied and fundamental research improves models on mechanical and chemical rock properties as well as rock magnetics to better predict heterogeneities of reservoirs and seals in the subsurface. We analyze processes, techno-economical utilization concepts and value chains for energy and mineral resources to identify strategic options.
Our innovation contributes to the efficient exploration and use of renewable energy such as CO2/CCS, hydrogen and geothermal, hydrocarbons, raw materials and subsurface storage.
Details of research and facilities:
We closely work with colleagues within
ME.Lab is headed by Dr. Chaojie Cheng.
| Objective |
The objective of MELab is to advance the understanding of physico-chemical-biological processes of/in geomaterials from the grain to plug scale, encompassing experimental studies on rock and pore space alteration, fluid migration dynamics, and rock mechanics under controlled conditions. |
| Applications |
avoid salt plugging during CO2-injection assess storage capacity and rock alteration during H2 geological storage in porous media impact of microbes in pore space und their potential utlization salt creep |
| Rock Mechanics Equipment |
uniaxial hydraulic press up to 1000 kN for samples with diameters between 25 mm and 75 mm triaxial Hoek cell with confining pressure up to 70 MPa strain gauge systems |
| Microfluidics Equipment |
Custom-made microfluidic experimental setup under inverted FL-transmitted light microscope with world's first transparent real-rock flow through reactor transparent flow-through microreactors with mother-slave-temperature controllers and syringe pumps |
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Batch Reactor Equipment |
Custom-made temperature controlled batch reactors up to 300°C and 25 MPa for rock-fluid-gas reactions, including hydrogen and CO2
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| Workshop | The Institute of Applied Geosciences holds an in-house workshop staffed by highly experienced personnel, enabling ME.Lab to develop and construct custom-made experimental setups while continuously improving and refining existing equipment |
RC.Lab is headed by Dr. Benjamin Busch.
| Objective |
Objective of RCL is a better understanding of reservoir quality prediction from grain- to reservoir scale. This includes analyses of real rock alteration (diagenesis) and reservoir quality prediction modeling, natural fracture networks rock and geomechanical analysis. |
| Applications |
Reservoir- and seal-characterization of cutting, plugs, cores and outcrop analogs Reservoir Quality Prediction Modeling, digital twins of rocks Fracture network analysis and fracture sealing |
| Field Equipment |
hand-held spectral gamma ray hand-held X-ray Fluorescence hand-held Tiny-Perm mechanical point-load test (PLT) rebound material tester (Schmidt hammer) small and large drones for non-contact fracture and heterogeneity analysis Lidar for non-contact fracture and heterogeneity analysis |
| Analytical Petrophysics Equipment: |
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| Permeability |
He-Flow-Through Permeameter up to 30 MPa at room temperature (measurements from nD to 10s mD) for 1 inch plugs He-Flow-Through Permemeater up to 50 MPa up to 150°C (measurements form nD to 1ßs mD) for 1 inch and 30 mm plugs Air-Flow-Through Permeater up to 1.2 MPa confining pressure at room temperature (measurements from 100s nD to 10,000 mD) for 1 inch and 1.5 inch plugs and rock cubes Air-Flow-Through Permeameter up to 60 MPa confining pressure at room temperature for 1 inch and 1.5 inch plugs and rock cubes |
| Porosity |
Helium-Pycnometer for density and porosity measurements Optical Porosity from petrography see-through thin section point-counting |
| vp/vs | compressional wave and shear wave velocity tester for plugs and cores |
| Analytical Petrographic Equipment: | |
| Workshop |
The Chair of Structural Geology holds its own thin section & polishing lab and thanks to the lab's highly experienced workshop staff holds expertise in staining and polishing |
| Microscopy |
Cold cathodoluminescence microscopy with camera Transmitted-light microscopes with camera Transmitted-light microscopes with attached Pelcon-Point Counters and camera Reflected- light microscopes with camera |
| Software | WellCad, EasyCore, Petrel, Eclipse, Move |
RM.Lab is headed by Prof. Dr. Agnes Kontny.
| Objective |
Objective of RML is a better understanding of physico-chemical processes on the grain- to nano scale using the magnetic properties of minerals rock. This includes real rock and experimental rock, pore space alteration, fluid migration and experimental rock mechanics. |
| Applications |
Rock magnetic characterization of all reservoir type rocks assess migration of hydrogen by rock magnetic alteration |
| Rock Magnetics Equipment |
Kappa-Bridge (KLY5A) for magnetic susceptibility (bulk, field-dependent, in-phase, out of phase, anisotropy (magnetic fabric), temperature-dependent (magnetic mineralogy) Kappa-Bridge (KLY4A) for magnetic susceptibility (bulk, field-dependent, in-phase, anisotropy (magnetic fabric), temperature-dependent (magnetic mineralogy) Handheld Kappameters (SM30) for field studies Spinner Magnetometer (JR5A) for natural remanent magnetization, AF thermal demagnetization of crystalline rocks |
| Workshop | The Chair of Structural Geology holds its own thin section & polishing lab and thanks to the lab's highly experienced workshop staff holds expertise in staining and polishing small rocks volumes |
We disseminate research and projects to media and news, and share knowledge with the related industry and authorities.
We collaborate with our partners in Arabia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, China, Georgia, India, Japan, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia and USA and are happy to expand our network.