Overview
Background
Conduct interdisciplinary research to tackle technical challenges associated with the efficient and responsible extraction of geo-energy and geo-resources. Three main focuses of my research interests are:
1. Mining geomechanics for high-stress and high-temperature mining conditions.
- It covers ground support design, excavation stability analysis, pillar stability, mine seismicity, strata movement and surface subsidence, and mine paste fill optimisation.
- My research team has also conducted extensive work on (i) using Thin Spray-On Liners (TSLs) to replace shotcrete, (ii) developing new experimental capabilities in assessing grout durability in extremely acidic and hot conditions (>140°C ), and (iii) evaluating rock sensitivity to different weathering conditions (e.g., wet-dry cycles and humidity effect).
2. Reservoir geomechanics, targeting key technical challenges associated with unconventional gas recovery.
- It includes borehole stability, permeability evolution, reservoir petrophysical properties characterisation, multiphase flow in fractured porous media with challenges associated with natural gas extraction, carbon geological sequestration, underground hydrogen storage, and energy storage in depleted reservoirs, and
- Over the years, my group has developed advanced multiscale multiphase and multiphysics computational modelling capabilities
3. Machine Learning Applications in Mining and Natural Gas Fields
- Explore the diverse applications of machine learning and deep learning algorithms in geomaterial strength analysis (sedimentary rock in particular), geotechnical characterization (e.g., automatic calculation of rock fracture characteristics, and roadway stability assessment of different geological conditions), and subsurface characterization. By harnessing the power of data-driven approaches, the research group aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of rock mechanics analysis, enabling more effective decision-making in engineering projects.
Teaching Courses:
- Applied Mining Geomechanics (MINE3129) (Since 2023)
- Mine Geotechnical Engineering (MINE4120) (2013- 2023)
- Coal Mine Strata Control (MINE4128) (2013- 2023)
Resources Geomechanics Lab (NATA accredited. Accreditation Number: 21126) with leading experimental capabilities in:
1. A suite of rock mechanics testing capabilities:
- Mechanical properties (e.g., modulus, Poisson's ratio, density)
- Rock strengths (e.g., UCS, triaxial strength, fracture shear strength, direct shear, punch shear, direct tensile strength, Brazilian Tensile Strength, and bond adhesion force), and
- Rock petrophysical properties (e.g., porosity, permeability/conductivity at different high confining stresses, fracture compressibility, slake durability, and rock weathering etc)
2. Rock dynamic responses to different stress conditions (transient condition) using non-destructive methods (e.g., Acoustic Emission and Ultrasonic Detection for different applications at different scales)
3. Characterization of fluid flow (water or gas) in fractured porous media under a high-stress environment (up to 10,000 psi)
4. Quantifying the evolution of the intrinsic and relative permeability of extremely tight reservoirs (e.g., coals, shales, and tight sandstones) to gas adsorption/desorption as well as the changes of contact angle with varying reservoir pressure
5. Visualising two-phase flow using microfluidics: discontinuous flow vs continuous flow
6. Quantifying the impact of proppant embedment and reservoir stress on shale permeability evolution
7. Gas isotherm and directional sorption-induced strain measurements for different absorbing reservoir rocks
8. Mine paste rheological property measurements at various shearing controls, e.g., constant shear rate, varying shearing rate, ramping controls etc.
Availability
- Associate Professor Zhongwei Chen is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia
Works
Search Professor Zhongwei Chen’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Artificial general intelligence for the upstream geoenergy industry: a review
Li, Jimmy Xuekai, Zhang, Tiancheng, Zhu, Yiran and Chen, Zhongwei (2024). Artificial general intelligence for the upstream geoenergy industry: a review. Gas Science and Engineering 205469, 205469. doi: 10.1016/j.jgsce.2024.205469
2024
Journal Article
Optimization of a coal mine roof characterization model using machine learning
Melville, Michael, Mondal, Sanjib, Nehring, Micah and Chen, Zhongwei (2024). Optimization of a coal mine roof characterization model using machine learning. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 181 105835, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2024.105835
2024
Journal Article
Experimental investigation on coal pore-fracture variation and fractal characteristics synergistically affected by solvents for improving clean gas extraction
Han, Feilin, Xue, Sheng, Zheng, Chunshan, Chen, Zhongwei, Li, Guofu and Jiang, Bingyou (2024). Experimental investigation on coal pore-fracture variation and fractal characteristics synergistically affected by solvents for improving clean gas extraction. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 34 (3), 413-425. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2024.02.004
2024
Journal Article
Horizontal borehole azimuth optimization for enhanced stability and coal seam gas production
Saber, Erfan, Qu, Qingdong, Aminossadati, Saiied M., Zhu, Yiran and Chen, Zhongwei (2024). Horizontal borehole azimuth optimization for enhanced stability and coal seam gas production. Rock Mechanics Bulletin, 3 (1) 100100, 100100. doi: 10.1016/j.rockmb.2023.100100
2024
Conference Publication
A strain-driven model for anisotropic permeability evolution of shale and coal incorporating creep deformation, anisotropic internal swelling/shrinkage, and gas rarefaction effects
Zeng, Jie, Guo, Jianchun, Liu, Junchen, Zhang, Tao, Zhao, Zhihong, Liu, Jishan and Chen, Zhongwei (2024). A strain-driven model for anisotropic permeability evolution of shale and coal incorporating creep deformation, anisotropic internal swelling/shrinkage, and gas rarefaction effects. SPE Conference at Oman Petroleum and Energy Show, Muscat, Oman,, 22-24 April 2024. Richardson, TX, United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/218594-MS
2023
Conference Publication
Comparative Analysis of Sonic Velocities in Partially Saturated Rocks Containing H2, CH4, N2 and CO2
Li, Jimmy Xuekai, Hu, Jinghao, Zhang, Tiancheng and Chen, Zhongwei (2023). Comparative Analysis of Sonic Velocities in Partially Saturated Rocks Containing H2, CH4, N2 and CO2. Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Symposium APUR 2023, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 14–15 November 2023. Richardson, TX United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/217273-MS
2023
Conference Publication
Impact of Surface Roughness and Liquid Salinity on Shale Wettability
Qian, Sijin, Zhu, Yiran, Shi, Zhang, Lu, Mingyuan, Shen, Luming, Li, Jimmy Xuekai and Chen, Zhongwei (2023). Impact of Surface Roughness and Liquid Salinity on Shale Wettability. Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Symposium APUR 2023, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 14–15 November 2023. Richardson, TX United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/217315-MS
2023
Conference Publication
Characterization of Anisotropic Geomechanical Properties of Australian Bowen Basin Coals Through Nanoindentation and Upscaling Approaches
Shi, Zhang, Huang, Yixiao, Flottman, Thomas, Leonardi, Christopher, Lu, Mingyuan and Chen, Zhongwei (2023). Characterization of Anisotropic Geomechanical Properties of Australian Bowen Basin Coals Through Nanoindentation and Upscaling Approaches. Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Symposium APUR 2023, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 14–15 November 2023. Richardson, TX United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/217274-MS
2023
Conference Publication
A New coupled approach to simulating fault reactivation during CO2 sequestration
Saber, Erfan, Qu, Qingdong, Aminossadati, Saiied M., Li, Jimmy and Chen, Zhongwei (2023). A New coupled approach to simulating fault reactivation during CO2 sequestration. Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Symposium, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 14-15 November 2023. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: SPE. doi: 10.2118/217287-ms
2023
Journal Article
Experimental investigation on pore-fracture variations in coal affected by carbon disulfide
Zheng, Chunshan, Li, Xing, Li, He, Jiang, Bingyou and Chen, Zhongwei (2023). Experimental investigation on pore-fracture variations in coal affected by carbon disulfide. ACS Omega, 8 (41), 38426-38440. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05203
2023
Journal Article
Propagation of multiple hydraulic fractures in a transversely isotropic shale formation
Saber, Erfan, Qu, Qingdong, Sarmadivaleh, Mohammad, Aminossadati, Saiied M. and Chen, Zhongwei (2023). Propagation of multiple hydraulic fractures in a transversely isotropic shale formation. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 170 105510, 105510. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2023.105510
2023
Conference Publication
Understanding the impact of floor disruption blasting on low wall slope stability
Zhu, Y., Chen, Z., Onederra, I. and Chacon, F. (2023). Understanding the impact of floor disruption blasting on low wall slope stability. 12th EFEE World Conference on Explosives and Blasting, Dublin, Ireland, 10-12 September 2023. Wien, Austria: European Federation of Explosives Engineers.
2023
Journal Article
Experimental and modeling investigation of dual-source iron release in water–solid–gas interaction of abandoned coal mine drainage
Zhou, Lai, Ye, Tao, Zheng, Shuangshuang, Zhu, Xueqiang, Chen, Zhongwei and Wu, Yu (2023). Experimental and modeling investigation of dual-source iron release in water–solid–gas interaction of abandoned coal mine drainage. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 45 (11), 1-17. doi: 10.1007/s10653-023-01731-4
2023
Conference Publication
Predicting weathered rock properties using integrated geophysics and laboratory testing approach
Shi, Z., Flottmann, T., Millen, M., Pidgeon, B., Huang, Y. and Chen, Z. (2023). Predicting weathered rock properties using integrated geophysics and laboratory testing approach. 57th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, Atlanta, GA United States, 25–28 June 2023. Alexandria, VA United States: American Rock Mechanics Association. doi: 10.56952/ARMA-2023-0647
2023
Journal Article
Automatic coal mine roof rating calculation using machine learning
Li, Jimmy Xuekai, Tsang, Matt, Zhong, Ruizhi, Esterle, Joan, Pirona, Claire, Rajabi, Mojtaba and Chen, Zhongwei (2023). Automatic coal mine roof rating calculation using machine learning. International Journal of Coal Geology, 274 104292, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2023.104292
2023
Journal Article
Experimental investigation on pores and permeability variation characteristics of coal treated by chemical solvents
Zheng, Chunshan, Liao, Feng, Xue, Sheng, Jiang, Bingyou, Gong, Xuanping, Han, Baiqing and Chen, Zhongwei (2023). Experimental investigation on pores and permeability variation characteristics of coal treated by chemical solvents. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 223 211514, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.geoen.2023.211514
2023
Conference Publication
Biaxial Loading of Brazilian Disc Samples
Serati, M., Mottaghi, R., Williams, D. J. and Chen, Z. (2023). Biaxial Loading of Brazilian Disc Samples. Rock and Fracture Mechanics in Rock Engineering and Mining, Helsinki, Finland, 11-15 September 2022. Bristol, United Kingdom: Institute of Physics. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1124/1/012017
2022
Journal Article
Effects of chemical solvents on coal pore structural and fractal characteristics: an experimental investigation
Zheng, Chunshan, Liu, Shuaili, Xue, Sheng, Jiang, Bingyou and Chen, Zhongwei (2022). Effects of chemical solvents on coal pore structural and fractal characteristics: an experimental investigation. Fuel, 327 125246, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.125246
2022
Conference Publication
Horizontal coal seam gas well orientation optimization: the impact of stress regime
Saber, Erfan, Qu, Qingdong, Aminossadati, Saiied M. and Chen, Zhongwei (2022). Horizontal coal seam gas well orientation optimization: the impact of stress regime. SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 17-19 October 2022. Houston, TX, United States: The Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/210647-ms
2022
Journal Article
Dewatering optimization of coal seam gas production wells: a review and future perspectives
Zhu, Yiran, Shi, Zhang, Zuo, Shengjie, Qu, Qingdong, Yan, Xinlu, Kuznetsov, Dan, Nehring, Micah and Chen, Zhongwei (2022). Dewatering optimization of coal seam gas production wells: a review and future perspectives. Energy and Fuels, 36 (17), 9785-9820. doi: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c01575
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Zhongwei Chen is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
-
Impact of CO2 geosequestration on surface movement
-
Assessing Stability of Cleated Coal Seam Gas Wells- An Integrated Experimental and Numerical Modelling Approach
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Energy Storage in Depleted Gas Reservoirs
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Assessing the impact of underground hydrogen storage on surface movement and fault reactivation risk
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Modeling of the fault slippage mechanisms during gas extraction
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
Master Philosophy
Understanding the mechanism of instability in underground longwall mines using microseismic monitoring
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Micah Nehring
-
Doctor Philosophy
Impact of CO2-water wettability on CO2 migration and long-term fate in deep saline aquifers
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Impact of Weathering on the Long-term Stability of Abandoned Mine Slopes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Longbin Huang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Rock-Fluids Interaction in Shale Gas Reservoirs
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mingyuan Lu
-
Master Philosophy
Influence of the nitrate type on the critical diameter of emulsion explosives
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Italo Onederra
-
Doctor Philosophy
Rock mass preconditioning methodology for block caving based on Petroleum state of the art methods
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ray Johnson, Professor Peter Knights
-
Doctor Philosophy
Reservoir properties of the Toolebuc Formation, Eromanga Basin, Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Joan Esterle, Emeritus Professor Sue Golding
-
Doctor Philosophy
Use of Thin Spray Liners in Underground Coal Mines: Mechanism, Testing and Design Methodology Development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Mehmet Kizil
-
Doctor Philosophy
Improving Gas Recovery in Low-Permeability Coals by Deployment of Multi-stage Indirect Hydraulic Fractures
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Leonardi, Professor Ray Johnson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Thermo-mechanical Damage Behaviour in Hydraulic Fracturing of Brittle Rocks Under Polyaxial Stresses
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mehdi Serati
-
Doctor Philosophy
Quantifying the impact of both stress and gas loading on preconditioning by confined blasting
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Italo Onederra
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Crack Growth and Failure Mechanisms in Sprayed Concrete (Shotcrete) under Cyclic Loading
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Williams, Dr Mehdi Serati
Completed supervision
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of capillary trapping and gas-water two-phase flow in coal seam gas reservoirs
Principal Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Integrated Geomechanical, Geohydraulic and Geological (3G) Study of Coal Fines Generation and Migration
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
The Impact of Time-dependent Deformation on Coal Permeability and Gas Drainage Efficiency
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Mehmet Kizil, Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Development of an Innovative FBG based Slope Stability Monitoring System
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Mehmet Kizil, Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Numerical Modelling of Multiple Hydraulic Fractures Propagation in Unconventional Reservoirs
Associate Advisor
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Alternative methods for geomechanical characterisation of sub-bituminous coal, Surat Basin, Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Joan Esterle
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Development and Investigation of Integrated Reservoir-Wellbore Flow Model
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Christopher Leonardi, Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of coal mining on multi-seam gas drainage borehole layout and sealing: implementation of the coupled permeability model
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati, Associate Professor Mehmet Kizil
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Modifying Subterranean Fluid Flow Patterns Using Barriers to Improve Pre-Drainage in Coal Mining
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati, Emeritus Professor Joan Esterle
Media
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