Major Research Contribution
- Initiated a new technology of using preformed particle gels (PPG) to reduce excess water production and improve oil recovery when he worked for PetroChina in 1997. Dr Bai continued to work in this area since then.The technology has been successfully applied to treat more than 10,000 wells and has become a new trend in gel treatments. Developed a novel EOR process---forced imbibition technology by combining particle gel and surfactant treatments to significantly enhance oil recovery for mature oilfields.
- Developed a series of re-crosslinkable preformed particle gel (RPPG) to control the conformance of reservoirs with voids, conduits, fractures, or fracture-like channels.
- Developed a series of CO2 resistant particle gels (CPPG) to control the conformance of CO2 flooding.
- Investigated the fluid flow performance in nano scale pore space in shale and tight hydrocarbon formations using a single-molecule imaging system combined with nano-fluidic chips.
- Developing new technologies to remediate CO2 leakage through wellbore.
- Developing temparory plugging agents for hydraulic fracturing, acid stimulation and drilling fluid loss control.
Funded External Projects at Missouri S&T
- Collaborative Research: Data-enabled modeling, numerical method, and data assimilation for coupling dual porosity flow with free flow,funded by NSF, funded by NSF, funded amount $180,000 from 8/1/2017-7/31/2020; Co-PI, 15%.
- Development of Swelling-Rate-Controllable Particle Gels to Enhance CO2 Flooding Sweep Efficiency and Storage Efficiency, Funded by NETL/DOE, Contract No. DE-FE0024558, total amount 1,240,396; DOE share 990, 575. 06/15/2015-09/30/2018, PI.
- Study and Pilot Test of Preformed Particle Gel Conf,ormance Control Combining with Surfactant Treatment, Funded by RPSEA/DOE, Sponsor Budget $863,453, Total budget $1,762,315, 11/2012-08/2015, PI.
- Water Management in Mature Oil Fields Using Advanced Particle Gels, Funded by RPSEA/DOE, Subcontracted from University of Austin, TX, Sponsor Budget $903,746, Total budget $1,168,190, 01/2013-01/2015, PI
- Using Single-Molecule Imaging System Combined with Nano-Fluidic Chips to Understand Fluid Flow in Tight and Shale Gas Formation, Funded by Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) under US DOE contract, total budget $1,709,042, Sponsor budget $1,213,072, 8/1/2010-7/30/2013, 50% share, PI.
- Geomechanical Simulation of CO2 Leakage and Caprock Remediation, Funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE), 10/1/2009-9/30/2012, Total budget $1,257,532, Sponsor budget: $917,603, 33% share, Co-PI.
- The City Utilities in Springfield Shallow CO2 Sequestration Demonstration (Lamotte Formation), funded by US DOE, $648,218, 01/2009-12/2010, 25%, Active, Co-PI.
- Enhanced Oil Recovery Efficiency for Mature Oilfields, Funded by PetroChina Company Limited, Sponsor budget, $270,083, 01/2009—12/2010, 100%, PI.
- Effect of Polymer/Polymer Gel on Disproportionate Permeability Reduction to Gas and Water for Tight Gas, Funded by American Chemistry Society Petroleum Research Funding, 9/1/2009-8/30/2011, total budget $146,460, Sponsor budget $100,000, 100%, PI.
- Preformed Particle Gel for Conformance Control, Funded by the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) under US DOE contract, total budget $786,716, Sponsor budget $520,212.00, 07/31/2008-03/31/2011, 100%, PI.
- Energy Research Grant for ISCO Pump, Funded by Teledyne ISCO Company, $10,000 for ISCO pump purchase.
Funded Internal Proposals at Missouri S&T
- Development of Thermo-responsible Polymer, funded by S&T Energy Research and Development Center (ERDC), $40,000, 8/2010-7/2011
- Instruments for CO2 Sequestration, approved by Chancellor, $95,000, May 2010
- Combination of Gel and Surfactant Treatments for Enhanced Oil Recovery, funded by Missouri Research Board, $29,600, Aug 2007-Aug 2008, 100%, PI.
- Improving Oil Displacing Efficiency using Nanotechnology, Missouri S&T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research (OURE); 09/2008-05/2009; $1,200 (Nis Ilyani Binti Mohmad).
- Improved Oil Recovery for Missouri Heavy Oil, Missouri S&T Opportunities for Undergraduate Research (OURE); 09/2008-05/2009; $1,200 (Ahmad Salim, Ahmad Syahrir Hatta)
Funded Projects Outside of S&T
- Using Preformed Gel Particle to Control Water Conformance in Mature Oilfields, funded by PetroChina and CNPC, Co-sponsored by Daqing, LiaoHe, Jidong, Zhongyuan, and Nanyang oilfields, RMB 3,000,000 (US$461,500), 1997-2002, 100%, PI
- Using Gel to Control Water in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs, Funded by Petrochina and CNPC, Co-sponsored by Xinjiang Petroleum Institute and Jilin Production Institute), 1999-2002, RMB $1,500,000 (US$ 230,750), 100%, PI.
- Evaluation and Water Control Mechanisms of Weak Gel Used for Nanyang Oilfields, Funded by SINOPEC and Nanyang Petroleum Institute, 06/1999-06/2001, RMB $280,000 (US$43,076), 50%, PI.
- Selective Water Shutoff for Producers and Optimization Design of Conformance Control for a Block, Funded by Daqing Petroleum Company Limited, 01/2000-12/2000, RMB $600,000 (US$92,308), 100%, PI
- Study on Reservoir Sweep Improvement for Offshore Crude Oilfield, Funded by CNOOC, 01/2000-12/2000, RMB 480,000 (US$73,846), 100%, PI.
- Development of a Software Package for the Optimization and Design of Water Shutoff and Profile Control Treatments, Funded by China National Petroleum Corporation, Co-sponsored by Daqing, Liaohe, Zhongyuan, Dagang, Changqing, Xinjiang, Tuha, Jidong, Tarim, and Shengli Petroleum Bureau),1997-1999, RMB $500,000 (US$76,923), 100%, PI.
- Using Weak Gel to Improve Oil Recovery in Mature Oilfields, Funded by China National Petroleum Corporation, co-sponsored by Daqing, Liaohe, and Zhongyuan, 1996-1999, RMB $970,000 (US$149,230), 100%, PI
- Water Shutoff for Deep Wells in Carbonate Reservoirs, Funded by Xinjiang Petroleum Bureau, 06/1997-12/1998, RMB $280,000 (US$43,097), 50%, PI.
- Study on Water Shutoff and Profile Control of Deep Well in Tarim Oilfield, funded by CNPC and Tarim Petroleum Bureau, 1996-1998, RMB $680,000 (US$104,615), 50%, PI.
- Numerical Simulation of Jin-16 Blocks and Optimization Design for Water Control, Funded by Liaohe Petroleum Bureau, 01/1997-12/1997, RMB $99,000 (US$14,231), 100%, PI.
- Evaluation of Polymer Used for Jin Polymer Flooding, Funded by Liaohe Petroleum Bureau, 01/1997-12/1997, RMB $90,000 (US$13,846), 100%, PI.
- Selective Water Shutoff Using W/O Emulsions, Funded by Liaohe Petroleum Bureau, 02/1996-12/1996, RMB $80,000 (US$12,307), 100%, PI.