Project Info


Improve the resolution of oscillation-based mass measurement system

Xiaolong Yin | xyin@mines.edu

In this project, student will learn to use the frequency of a spring-mass system to determine mass in high-pressure, high-temperature environments that are typical of petroleum reservoir conditions. The objectives of the project are to 1) improve the accuracy of the measurement from about 1% to 0.1%, by using better system components / procedures; 2) measure gas storage in conventional and unconventional rocks.

More Information

Publication by previous undergraduate student working on the topic:
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6501/aa66c8/meta

More recent works are available upon request.

Grand Engineering Challenge:  Engineer the tools of scientific discovery

Student Preparation


Qualifications

Physics and chemistry labs. Knowledge of MATLAB will be a plus.

Time Commitment

30-40  hours/month

Skills/Techniques Gained

General petroleum research lab skills; experience with pressure equipments; knowledge of gas reservoir reserves; understanding of experimental errors; data aquisition and processing.

Mentoring Plan

Student will work with existing graduate student to learn the setup in the first semester and try to test / improve the accuracy of the setup. In the second semester, the focus will be to measure gas storage in conventional and unconventional rocks.