Groundwater Flow and Contaminant Transport
Under this theme, we study ways to improve models of groundwater flow and contaminant transport. Our research work advances knowledge in modeling the transport of reactive and nonreactive materials in the aqueous and oleic phases in subsurface systems. Improved solutions to the advection-diffusion-reaction equations are sought to enhance our understanding of the factors influencing observed responses at measurement locations. Models developed here will be useful to both the environmental sciences and the petroleum industry during primary, secondary and tertiary depletion of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Parameter estimation in carbonate reservoirs and water aquifers involving advective and reactive flows would also be considered. Both local and global optimization strategies would be applied to the models developed to estimate reservoir permeability or aquifer conductivity.