Javier Vilcáez

My research program is on the Water-Energy-CO₂ Nexus. This program is to contribute toward a net-zero emissions energy transition. I conduct experimental and computational research on the petrophysical characterization of rocks, as well as on the elucidation of the hydrological, geochemical, and microbiological factors and interactions that control the multiphase bio-geochemical reactive transport of gas, aqueous, and hydrocarbon fluids in deep and shallow geological formations of complex heterogeneous porous media such as carbonates, at both the pore- and field-scale levels. The focus is on groundwater quality, petroleum produced water treatment and disposal, geological carbon and hydrogen storage, hydrogen production in depleted oil reservoirs, and mining of critical minerals from brine. The goal is to develop new environmental technologies and computational methodologies to minimize the environmental burden of and optimize the development of subsurface energy, mineral, and groundwater resources. My research incorporates the utilization of global optimization, machine learning, and environmental data analytical tools and techniques.

Earth to me is a spherical shape reactor undergoing chemical reactions coupled with mass and energy transfer processes driven by an unbalanced distribution of matter and energy, predictable and reproducible.