Multidisciplinary Advanced Stimulation Laboratory

Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering

Optimizing primary recovery in unconventional reservoirs is crucial due to their low-quality characteristics and the significant capital required to drill and fracture long horizontal wells. Enhancing primary recovery is the most efficient way to improve the long-term economic value of these resources. Higher production rates can increase return on investment, shorten the time to payout, and sustain elevated drilling levels.

The University of Wyoming Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering is set to address critical industry needs through the creation of a new Multidisciplinary Advanced Stimulation Laboratory (MASL). In partnership with the School of Energy Resources, this state-of-the-art facility will foster innovation in subsurface energy applications by integrating geomechanics, fluid dynamics, and advanced reservoir characterization into a unified research hub, establishing a center of excellence.

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MASL Leadership Team

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PhD student Cindy Agyemang working with the Modular Compact Rheometer

PhD student Cindy Konadu Agyemang works with the lab's Modular Compact Rheometer.

The Rock Compressability Unit is used to study how rocks behave under pressure with fluids.

PhD student Faraz Sufyan studying microfluidics

PhD student Faraz Sufyani gets an up-close look at microstructures in core samples.

PhD student Ansar Usman working with the True Triaxial Testing unit

PhD student Ansar Usman makes adjustments on the True Triaxial Testing unit, which is used to study how different rocks behave under pressure from multiple angles.

Amott cells are used to study spontaneous imbibition to determine the effectiveness of different types of fluid for displacing petroleum from rock samples.

State-of-the-Art Research

This state-of-the-art facility, located in the new Science Initiative Building near the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the UW School of Energy Resources (SER), aims to pioneer advanced research and technologies to revolutionize primary recovery techniques in unconventional reservoirs. Additionally, MASL will collaborate closely with other SER Centers of Excellence, including the Subsurface Energy and Digital Innovation (SEDI) Center, to drive breakthroughs in reservoir stimulation, datadriven optimization, and advanced recovery strategies.

Beyond advancing its own research initiatives, MASL will generate valuable data and insights that benefit other UW Centers of Excellence, such as SEDI. By providing a robust foundation for cross-disciplinary research and technology development, MASL will strengthen the overall innovation infrastructure at UW, fostering collaborative growth across multiple research domains.

MASL OBJECTIVES

The Advanced Stimulation Laboratory is central to the department’s effort to elevate the department’s national ranking and research profile. The work in the lab intends to:

Expand UW’s capacity for high-impact research in subsurface energy systems.
Attract and retain top-tier faculty, researchers, and students through state-of-the-art facilities.
Strengthen partnerships with industry and government stakeholders, driving real-world energy innovations.

Moreover, the lab will serve as a hub for pioneering research in subsurface energy systems, such as oil and gas recovery, carbon capture and storage, geothermal energy, and rare earth element extraction. Its multidisciplinary approach will encourage collaboration across various colleges and research centers at UW. The lab will place a strong emphasis on innovative studies in oil and gas, concentrating on areas like geomechanics, proppant testing, proppant placement, wellbore integrity, and the optimization of drilling and fracturing fluids.

Through these specialized research efforts, the Advanced Stimulation Laboratory aims to significantly improve recovery techniques and efficiency in unconventional reservoirs. Leveraging its advanced technology and multidisciplinary expertise, the laboratory is wellequipped to support other subsurface energy systems. This includes carbon capture and storage, geothermal energy, as well as rare earth element characterization and extraction. This broad scope ensures the facility's relevance across various cutting-edge energy applications.

Areas of Research

Stimulation Fluids and Proppant Transport Systems

Design, testing, and optimization of hydraulic fracturing fluids, proppant materials, fluid-fluid and fluid-rock compatibility, and placement techniques to enhance recovery in unconventional reservoirs.

Rock Physics, Geomechanics, and Geological Engineering

Experimental studies on the mechanical behavior of reservoir rocks under subsurface conditions, with applications in stimulation design, wellbore integrity, and formation evaluation.

Multiscale Reservoir Characterization and Petrophysics

Integrated workflows combining core analysis, organic matter characterization, digital rock physics, and geophysical data for characterizing pore structures, thermal maturity, mineralogy, fluid flow, and heterogeneity across scales.

Innovative Drilling Technologies

Development and testing of novel drilling methods to improve efficiency, safety, and recovery in challenging formations.

AI and Machine Learning for Subsurface Operations

Leverage laboratory and field datasets to develop AI- and ML-driven models that enhance operational efficiency, optimize stimulation design, and improve decision-making in real time.