UW Researchers Publish Article Exploring Mowry Shale Geomechanics
Published May 14, 2025
University of Wyoming researchers have published a critical review of the relationship among pore architecture, geomechanics and fluid flow during production-induced pressure decline in shales. This examination is a necessary step in identifying the factors that need special attention in researching burgeoning oil and gas reservoirs in Wyoming, such as the Mowry Shale.
The study, led by doctoral student Ifeanyi Nwankwo, examined the complexities of fluid movement through shale and the rock deformation and offered a path forward for research. Nwankwo, originally from Ifitedunu, Nigeria, is in the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering in the UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
The article, titled “A critical review of experimental and theoretical studies on shale geomechanical and deformation properties, fluid flow behavior, and coupled flow and geomechanics effects during production,” was published in the International Journal of Coal Geology. Co-authors include Morteza Dejam, an associate professor in the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, and Scott Quillinan, senior director of research in UW’s School of Energy Resources (SER).
