Dr. Hamed Dalir and Dr. Mohsen Ahmadian, director of the Advanced Energy Consortium (AEC) at the University of Texas at Austin, have been awarded $205,000 in funding by TotalEnergies—a global integrated energy company—to advance research on a “Novel Long-Range Acoustic Method for Decadal Monitoring of Plugged and Abandoned (P&A) Wells.” This groundbreaking project aims to revolutionize the monitoring of P&A wells using advanced acoustic techniques.
Additionally, $50,000 in seed funding from the Advanced Energy Consortium (AEC) will support further research and collaboration Dr. Ahmadian’s $3.7M research grant from the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) on developing a next-generation CO2 sensor for cement monitoring for geological carbon sequestration and storage application.
Phase I of the TotalEnergies project will examine the impact of environmental variables and controlled defects on acoustic signal propagation in cemented well systems. By utilizing model P&A samples and cutting-edge data acquisition technologies, this research will provide vital insights into acoustic transmission and reflection behaviors in wellbore environments. Field testing is planned for late summer, marking a significant milestone in the project. Collaboration between UF and AEC ensures comprehensive research outcomes.
UF students will conduct joint experiments at AEC facilities, establishing a strong partnership that will set the stage for Phase II, which will focus on sensor miniaturization and advanced modeling.
Ahmadian clarified, “Our team is actively engaged in R&D and commercializing cutting-edge nano-sensing technologies to establish a robust Internet of Things (IoT) for subsurface and pipeline monitoring. This IoT framework will serve as a pivotal role in ensuring safe and efficient subsurface storage of CO2 and H2 and provide crucial monitoring capabilities to mitigate the release of fugitive gases like CO2, H2, and CH4 into the environment.”
Added Dalir, “CHIP Lab is dedicated to developing miniaturized sensing technologies capable of parts-per-billion (PPB) detection in harsh environments, paving the way for reliable monitoring solutions in challenging industrial and environmental applications. Our strategic partnership with the Advanced Energy Consortium (AEC) of Austin has positioned us to secure unsolicited funding for applied research, alongside significant direct contracts with the DOE.”
Dalir and CHIP Lab Join AEC
The CHIP Lab, led by Dr. Hamed Dalir, has recently joined the internationally recognized Advanced Energy Consortium (AEC), furthering its mission to pioneer innovative solutions in energy safety and well integrity. The CHIP Lab is the first research groups from Florida to join.
Founded in 2008 and based at the University of Texas at Austin’s Bureau of Economic Geology, AEC is dedicated to achieving a transformational understanding of the subsurface through the deployment of advanced micro/nano sensors and materials technologies. Over the years, AEC has invested more than $70 million in cutting-edge research.