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RESEARCH
Experience: Summer Undergraduate Research in Geosciences and Engineering (SURGE) at Stanford University
Level: Gold
Description and Reflection:
In Summer 2019, I conducted research in the revitalization of abandoned oil wells for clean heat and electricity production. My project will involve modeling this process in Excel and Matlab. I will be able to analyze the viability, economic costs and benefits of the process. This research will enable me to develop research experience. This project is related to my Grand Challenge, Restoring and Improving Urban Infrastructure. It will be taking the problem of an old infrastructure, abandoned oil wells, and examining it for reuse for the extraction of clean, geothermal energy. This would alleviate the pollution problems related to unplugged oil wells. This was a really exciting project to work on as it is a very novel idea to tap into an existing resource. I worked on this project for 8 weeks, 40 hours a week under Dr. Roland Horne at Stanford University.
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Program Learning Objectives:
Perspectivism: It would allow me to gain knowledge of the challenges and perspectives related to energy extraction from abandoned oil wells.
Persistence: Using the new software, CMG STARS required a lot of trial and error. I was persistent in reaching out to my mentor and other graduate students who had knowledge of the software that could help me in making progress.
Integrity: It is important to remain honest with the data, methods, and results when sharing and presenting the research conducted.
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Research Learning Objectives:
Express ideas in an organized, clear, concise, and accurate manner. As a part of this research experience, I was able to deliver both an oral and poster presentation on my research to other students and faculty. This will allow me to develop my research communication skills.
Write clearly and effectively. I was be able to practice writing about my research motivation, methods, outcomes and conclusions.
Effectively connect multiple ideas and approaches. This project consisted of synthesizing my software and laboratory skills. I will be able to model the energy extraction process and approach it mathematically and empirically,
Formulate questions and hypotheses within the discipline. As a researcher, I will have to ask questions such as what is the best way to model the energy extraction process.
Understand how practitioners think within the discipline and view the world around them. This would allow me to develop a perspective of what innovative research is happening in clean energy engineering and the pros and cons of extracting from nonrenewable sources in a clean manner.
Predict, recognize, and weigh the risks and benefits of the project for others. This project involves energy extraction from abandoned oil wells in a way that does not release carbon dioxide. Through modeling the process, I will be able to predict and recognize the risks associated with the extraction.
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Additional Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate the ability to work independently and identify when input, guidance, and feedback are
needed: In order to learn to use the CMG STARS, I first researched the manual, software website and Youtube videos. After learning that there were little online resources available, I reached out for help. I went to both the SURGE coordinator as well as the Senior Research Scientist. I was able to gain guidance and both were able to connect me with students on campus who had used the software before, including one person who was in my lab group and an international student in Japan who had worked on some other parts of this project before.
Display detailed and accurate knowledge of key facts and concepts: In order to present my findings, I developed a poster and oral presentation on my research methods and experimental development. I was able to organize the two different well scenarios I had come up with as well as the varying parameters. In addition, I included graphs to visually represent my data.
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