Igor Beresnev's Research Projects

My interests lie in the fields of earthquake seismology, applied geophysics, wave propagation, fluid dynamics, and digital-data processing.

I study the effects of seismic waves and vibrations on the flow and mobilization of entrapped organic fluids (such as oil, gas, or organic contaminants) in geologic formations. This research aims at developing field technologies of enhanced petroleum recovery or groundwater remediation using seismic and acoustic stimulation. We are focusing on the fundamental aspects of fluid dynamics of immiscible two-phase flow in the presence of vibrations, with the intent to elucidate the mechanisms by which the vibrations mobilize the non-wetting fluids (related articles: Geophysics, 1994; Geophysical Research Letters, 2005; Geophysics, 2006; Geophysics, 2010; Geophysical Research Letters, 2011).

A related subject is the capillary instability that causes the break-up of non-wetting  fluids into droplets in porous channels (see: Transport in Porous Media, 2009; Physics of Fluids, 2010; Physics of Fluids, 2011). To describe the break-up correctly, we also study the thickness of wetting films left on pore walls during liquid-liquid invasion (see: Physical Review E, 2011).

In seismology, I am mostly interested in various aspects of earthquake ground motions, such as simulation of radiation from fault ruptures or studies of amplification of seismic waves by sedimentary layers, and earthquake-source physics in general. Working with digital seismic data involves a great deal of computer programming, in which I often rely on myself, since many non-traditional data-processing tasks do not leave other choice. I co-authored a computer code FINSIM (in collaboration with Dr. Gail Atkinson, University of Western Ontario, Canada, www.uwo.ca/earth/people/faculty/atkinson.html), which calculates seismic radiation from rupturing faults and is currently used in over 170 institutions in 36 countries. My interests also involve nonlinear elasticity of earth materials and observation and modeling of nonlinear effects in seismic-wave propagation.

My applied-geophysics agenda revolves around using multichannel-seismic, multi-electrode electrical-resistivity, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) systems for shallow-subsurface exploration.  Examples of work include prospecting for new sand-and-gravel deposits (related article: Journal of Applied Geophysics, 2002) or GPR applications to the assessment of road quality. I have also long been interested in the physics of seismic radiation from Vibroseis sources (see project description below).

Current and Recent Sponsored Projects

Sonic stimulation of reservoirs and aquifers

Since 2002, this subject has continuously been supported by awards from the National Science Foundation, Petroleum Research Fund, and Department of Energy. 

All projects have a common goal of developing the physical foundations of the technologies of sonic stimulation of reservoirs and aquifers.  We focus on the basic capillary physics explaining the pore-scale mechanism of fluid mobilization in rock by seismic waves and vibrations, through theoretical and laboratory studies. The studies are performed by our multidisciplinary team of scientists from the Department of Geological & Atmospheric Sciences and Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering. The theoretical and numerical modeling is primarily conducted by me and my students at the Department of Geological & Atmospheric Sciences. The laboratory work uses the techniques of visualization of fluid-flow in porous volumes allowing direct observation of pore-scale effects produced by vibrations. The experiments are carried out by my partner Dr. Dennis Vigil (http://www.cbe.iastate.edu/the-department/facultystaff/?user_page=vigil) and our joint students at the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering.

A recently completed DOE project, on which I collaborated with Michigan Technological University, emphasized field observations of sonically enhanced oil production (www.geo.mtu.edu/spot/SPOTProjects.htm).

Applied geophysics

2002-2010 "Source signature of surface vibrators". Sponsors: WesternGeco, ConocoPhillips.

This industry-sponsored research has looked into improving the quality of deep seismic imaging in oil exploration through better understanding of the Vibroseis source. Seismic vibrators are the most common source of seismic energy in land exploration; however, the physics of Vibroseis radiation is not satisfactorily understood. For example, we have worked on the subjects of how ground nonlinearity around the vibrating plate and non-rigidity (flexing) of the plate affected the outgoing waves (see: Geophysics, 2004; Geophysical Prospecting, 2005; Geophysics, 2006; Journal of Sound and Vibration, 2012). I am currently exploring the correct representation of the source signature of the Vibroseis source as seen at depth.

Most Recent Graduate Students
 

• Wen Deng (Ph.D.) was involved in computational fluid dynamics related to the simulations of (1) the effect of vibrations on two-phase pore-fluid flow and (2) the break-up of pore fluids into droplets.  
   
• William Gaul (Ph.D.) conducted laboratory experiments to verify the theoretical and computational predictions of the vibratory-mobilization and break-up phenomena.  
   
• Nicholas Hamden (M.S.) simulates earthquake radiation from the Great 2011 Japan earthquake to better understand seismic ground motions.

Geophysical Equipment Resources

With our state-of-the-art equipment, we are capable of conducting precise geophysical surveys.  My geophysics lab is equipped with a Geometrics StrataView 24-channel engineering seismograph, ideal for detailed seismic-refraction and reflection studies. The lab also includes a multi-electrode resistivity system ResiStar RS-100M and a Noggin 250/500 MHz ground-penetrating radar, which provide unique possibilities for high-resolution subsurface imaging.