Events

 Speaker:  Dr. Manika Prasad, Professor of the Petroleum Engineering Department at the Colorado School of Mines

Title of Seminar: “Shale Rock Physics: a Discussion about Nothing and Everything”

Abstract: Shales are characterized by complex mineralogy, large surface areas, and small pores. In these heterogeneous systems, the mineralogy, surface area, and surface chemistry play a large role in preferential fluid coverage. By understanding these interactions, we can devise indirect geophysical experiments to determine them. In organic-rich rocks, fluids compete to cover the surfaces of the inorganic and the organic constituents. A combination of preferential fluid coverage of polar and non-polar fluids with acoustic and electrical measurements allows us to build realistic rock models. In organic-rich rocks, a further complication is provided by maturity effects on surface area and porosity evolution. These changes, in turn, affect velocity, conductivity and mechanical stiffness of organic-rich rocks. I will discuss the effects of fluid polarity and rock mineralogy on pore size distribution and their use in existing models.

Biography:   Manika Prasad is a Professor of the Petroleum Engineering Department at the Colorado School of Mines. She directs the Center for Rock Abuse at Colorado School of Mines. Her research interests are multidisciplinary research on rock, sediment and fluid properties, quantitative nano- and microscale characterizations, flow zone mapping, and nondestructive materials characterization. A large part of Manika’s work is on clays, shales, unconsolidated sands, poorly and well consolidated sandstones and chalks, and impedance microstructure in rocks and glasses. Through her teaching and research, she engages the next generation of industry professionals through her own clear understanding of rock physics and perceptive questioning of her students. Manika was awarded SEG-AAPG Distinguished Lecturer in Fall 2012; SEG Outstanding Educator Award in 2015, and the Virgil Kauffman Gold Medal 2017.