Sustainable Subsurface Energy Technologies Lab
Welcome to the Ellis Lab research website! In our group we investigate water-rock interactions within the context of
geologic energy activities. Current research topics include studying the environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing and investigating
the longterm viability of CO2 sequestration in deep saline aquifers. Our research approaches combine bench-scale experiments, cutting-edge electron beam,
X-ray, and neutron imaging techniques, and geochemical modeling to examine: (1) fate of injected fluids in the
subsurface, (2) release and
transport of groundwater contminants in geologic reservoirs, (3) and geochemical alterations of
fracture pathways. To learn more about specific research projects click here.
Group News
Recent Publications:
Menefee, A.H., Welch, N.J., Frash, L.P., Hicks, W., Carey, J.W., Ellis, B.R. (2020). Rapid mineral precipitation during shear fracturing of carbonate-rich shales. Journal of Geophysical Research – Solid Earth, 125 (6), e2019JB018864.
Menefee, A.H., Ellis, B.R. (2020). Wastewater management strategies for sustained shale gas production. Environmental Research Letters, 15 (2), 024001.
Adeoye, J.T., Zhang, D., Li, V.C., Ellis, B.R. (2020). Novel ductile wellbore cementitious composite for geologic CO2 storage, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 94, 102896.
Lim, T., Ellis, B.R., Skerlos, S.J. (2019). Mitigating CO2 emissions of concrete manufacturing through CO2-enabled binder reduction. Environmental Research Letters, 14, 114014.
Das. S, Adeoye, J., Dhiman, I., Bilheux, H., Ellis, B.R. (2019). Imbibition of mixed charge surfactant fluids in shale fractures. Energy & Fuels, 33(4), 2839-2847.