My research focuses on self-potential (SP) measurements applied to enhanced oil recovery in sandstone and carbonate reservoirs, supercritical CO₂ geo-sequestration, contaminant flow in shallow fresh water aquifers and subsurface sustainable energy. The research involves the cutting edge experimental methods as well as theoretical and numerical modelling. SP arises in porous media saturated with electrolytes and other NAPL (non-aqueous liquid phase) in response to pressure, concentration or temperature gradients.

SP measurements and interpreted from them zeta potential improve the understanding of the mechanisms that control improved oil recovery during controlled salinity waterflooding in sandstones and carbonates. The method complemented by other petrophysical properties has demonstrated its potential to i) predict the crude oil/brine/rock (COBR) composition for which oil recovery is maximized and/or ii) be used as part of experimental or modelling techniques that allow the optimal composition of injected brine to be predicted for a given reservoir.

Other applications of SP measurements include:

1. Monitoring of i) subsurface flow during hydrocarbon production, ii) saline intrusion into freshwater aquifers, iii) contaminant transport, iv) CO₂ geo-sequestration, v) geo-thermal flows;
2. Characterisation of rock wettability, potentially downhole;
3. Harvesting sustainable subsurface electrical energy.