Micromodel Lab

Welcome to the Micromodel Lab

The Micromodel Lab is dedicated to unraveling complex dynamics of multiphysics phenomena in porous media through experiments, analytical, and computational modeling in order to tackle geoscience and environmental-related problems. Lab research specifically focuses on investigating the physics of multiphase flow in porous media using microfluidic experiments and cutting-edge computational modeling. Currently, research activities in the Micromodel Lab focuses on H₂ and CO₂ as working fluids in association with hydrogen storage and production projects for GeoH₂ and carbon storage projects for the Gulf Coast Carbon Center.

Primary research at the Micromodel Lab currently includes:

• Pore- and reservoir-scale multiphase-flow modeling and simulation associated with H₂/CO₂ geologic storage
• Microfluidic experiments of multiphase flow in porous media

Researchers associated with the Micromodel Lab collaborate with universities, national laboratories, and those from industry. If you are interested in collaborating with us, or learning more about the Micromodel Lab, please contact Dr. Seyyed Hosseini.

Computational Modeling of Multiphase Flow in Porous Media

At the Micromodel Lab, our goal is to model and characterize multiphase flow in porous media, which has applications for both energy and environmental sectors. Researchers at the GCCC developed a pore-scale fluid flow simulator using the lattice Boltzmann method (Bakhshian et al., 2019). In order to model multiphase flow in rocks, realistically, the group utilizes X-ray tomography to geometrically image pore-scale fluid displacement patterns and invasion dynamics to generate, and enhance, field-scale simulations. We use high-performance computing systems at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) to perform extensive simulations.

Microfluidics Experiments

In the Micromodel Lab, microfluidics experiments are conducted to help scientists and engineers understand how to store hydrogen (H₂) or carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the subsurface by investigating pore-scale flow behavior within porous media. Microfluidic experiments, combined with high-resolution imaging techniques, provide real-time visualization of multiphase flow and dynamics in micro-structures of porous media (e.g., analogous to micro-structures and pores found in rocks below ground, deep in the subsurface). Observations and results from these investigations are vital for characterizing and optimizing fluid flow in H₂/CO₂ storage operations in the subsurface. Several investigations have already utilized etched silicon and real-rock micromodels to investigate the effect of pore-scale properties (e.g., microstructural heterogeneity, wettability) to characterize H₂/CO₂ displacement and entrapment in heterogenous porous media.

Current Lab Investigators

Summary of Project Successes

Guo, R., Ershadnia, R., Wang, H., Hosseini, S.A., Zhao Q., 2025, Microfluidic experiments on hydrogen behavior in heterogeneous rocks during underground hydrogen storage in saline aquifers, Fuel, v. 391, 12 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2025.134731.

Wang, H., Guo, R., Dalton, L. E., Crandall, D., Hosseini, S. A., Fan, M., Chen, C., 2024, Comparative Assessment of U-Net-Based Deep Learning Models for Segmenting Microfractures and Pore Spaces in Digital Rocks, SPE Journal, v. 29, p. 5779–5791. https://doi.org/10.2118/215117-PA.

Wang, H., Guo, R., Leng, J., Hosseini, S.A., Fan, M., 2023, A Comparative Study of Deep Learning Models for Fracture and Pore Space Segmentation in Synthetic Fractured Digital Rocks, SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, USA, https://doi.org/10.2118/215117-MS.

Bakhshian,S., Rabbani, H.S., Hosseini, S.A., Shokri, N., 2020, New Insights into Complex Interactions Between Heterogeneity and Wettability Influencing Two‐Phase Flow in Porous Media. Geophysical Research Letters, v. 47, e2020GL088187. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL088187.

Bakhshian, S., Murakami, M., Hosseini, S.A., Kang, Q., 2020, Scaling of Imbibition Front Dynamics in Heterogeneous Porous Media. Geophysical Research Letters, v. 47, 10 p. e2020GL087914. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL087914.

Feng, D., Wu, K., Bakhshian, S., Hosseini, S.A., Li, J., and Li, X., 2020, Nanoconfinement Effect on Surface Tension: Perspectives from Molecular Potential Theory. Langmuir, v. 36 (30), p. 8764–8776. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c01050.

Bakhshian, S., Hosseini, S. A.,  and Lake, L.W., 2020, CO₂-brine Relative Permeability and Capillary Pressure of Tuscaloosa Sandstone: Effect of Anisotropy: Advances in Water Resources, v. 135, no. 103464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2019.103464.

Bakhshian, S., Hosseini, S.A., 2019, Pore-Scale Analysis of Supercritical CO₂-Brine Immiscible Displacement Under Fractional-Wettability Conditions. Advances in Water Resources, v. 126, p. 96–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2019.02.008.

Bakhshian, S. ., Hosseini, S.A., Shokri, N., 2019, Pore-scale Characteristics of Multiphase Flow in Heterogeneous Porous Media Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method. Sci. Rep., v. 9, Article number: 3377. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39741-x.

Dashtian, H., Bakhshian, S., Hosseini, S.A.,  and Nicot, J. P..  2018, Convection-Diffusion-Reaction of CO₂-Enriched Brine in Porous Media: A Pore-Scale Study, Computers & Geosciences, v. 125, p. 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2019.01.009.

Bakhshian, S., Hosseini, S.A., 2019, Prediction of CO₂ Adsorption-induced Deformation in Shale Nanopores. Fuel, v. 241, p. 767–776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.12.095.

Thanks to Former Researchers & Postdoctoral Fellows

• Sahar Bakhshian, former Co-Principal Investigator, now at Rice University
• Reza Ershadnia, former Postdoctoral Fellow, now at ExxonMobil
• Baole Wen, Former Postdoctoral Fellow, now at the University of Michigan

Special Thanks to Former Students

Richard Colt Larson

2024 EER Master's Thesis: The Effect of Microscale Heterogeneity on the Transport of Carbon Dioxide in Geologic Carbon Sequestration (download).
Supervisor: Sahar Bakhshian

Shadya Taleb Restrepo

2023 EER Master's Thesis: Investigation of CO₂ Migration in Saline Aquifers Using Real-Rock Microfluidic Experiments (download).
Supervisor: Seyyed A. Hosseini

Last updated: March 28, 2025