| Hydrocarbon fluids distributed all around the world in subterranean reservoirs form a significant source of energy. These fluids are found in the fractures and pores of numerous minerals at wide ranging conditions of temperature and pressure. After decades of wide scale exploration, the demand for energy continues to rise. As a result, an increasing number of research efforts have focused on tapping energy from unconventional reservoirs such as shale, tight gas sands and coal seams. To develop advanced extraction strategies and predict long term impact of injection of CO2 into such reservoirs, we need to develop a thorough understanding of properties of hydrocarbon molecules in these confined environments. The effect of confinement, temperature, pressure, pore size, fluid composition and surface chemistry on the adsorption and dynamic properties of fluids may hold key knowledge.;Due the vast number of variables involved in such systems, it is incumbent to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach in order to clearly delineate the variation of fluid properties. The heterogeneity of natural systems is a tremendous challenge to such an undertaking. By analyzing representative systems experimentally, groundwork can be laid to utilize simulations in order to develop efficient and realistic models that predict fluid properties. |
