Home InspIOR®: Turnkey Microfluidic Technology Platform
At FluidicsLab, we offer a comprehensive all-in-one fluid testing technology that brings the full laboratory experience right to your fingertips. Our microfluidic systems enable the miniaturisation of various devices and lab applications, such as PVT and porous media flow solutions.
Our range of specialised micromodels – including flow assurance, porous media flow, wax and asphaltene precipitation chips, MMP chips, and foam stability chips – are complemented by unique workflows that support or even replace traditional testing processes. With fewer chemicals required and less time required compared to conventional methods, we not only provide a differentiated solution but also ensure minimal environmental impact.
The fast and economical visualisation of fluid dynamic flow and processes helps reduce costs and accelerates investigations. This makes microfluidics an ideal solution for energy companies, IOR/EOR & PVT departments, people working in energy storage and fluid analytics (researchers, engineers), as well as researchers in the field of low carbon/environmental gases applications.
Good to know: Accurate and efficient fluid analysis performed at extreme conditions and under tight deadlines can also accelerate the implementation of net-zero projects. This ultimately results in faster decarbonisation. Additionally, employing microfluidic testing methods minimises the laboratory's environmental impact, as fewer chemicals are used in the experiments.
From fast and accurate fluid testing to process visualisation and an all-in-one technology platform: Our InspIOR® microfluidic systems are designed to enhance efficiency, reliability and convenience in your laboratory workflows.
With InspIOR®, you can gain profound insights into fluid dynamics and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques – thus paving the way for recovery strategies that are efficient, effective, and environmentally conscious. Explore examples of the wide range of applications of our InspIOR® microfluidic systems micromodels:
Our microfluidic systems allow for the visualisation of water injection through porous media, providing valuable insights into displacement processes. The oil phase (depicted in green) is displaced by brine (shown in blue), which is injected into the chip from the left side. This enables a better understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in fluid displacement within porous media.
With our micromodels, we can assess mobility control in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and improved oil recovery (IOR) processes, such as polymer flooding. By utilising high-resolution visualisations, we can analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of mobility control techniques. This allows for a detailed examination of the fluid flow dynamics and the impact of polymer injection on enhancing oil recovery.
InspIOR® also enables the investigation of viscoelastic turbulence effects. By studying critical parameters such as brine salinity, polymer concentration, pressure and temperature, we can explore the impact of these factors on fluid flow dynamics. This facilitates a thorough examination of how the viscoelastic properties impact turbulence and, consequently, the effectiveness of oil recovery methods.
From visualising the gas produced by bacteria to observing bacterial growth, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between microbes and oil reservoirs. This information helps in developing effective strategies for microbial-enhanced oil recovery.
By studying the effects of immiscible gas injection on oil recovery, we gain valuable insights into the intricate dynamics at play. Immiscible gas injection often induces strong viscous fingering effects, leading to low oil recovery. Our microfluidic systems allow for detailed investigations, enabling a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between the injected gas and the oil reservoir.
Foam is commonly used to improve the effectiveness of gas floods in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Through the use of micromodels, we can investigate various foam-related EOR processes, including the analysis of bubble sizes, bubble count, lamella distribution, foam quality (liquid saturation), and stability. These studies are conducted under reservoir conditions, providing valuable insights into foam behaviour.
Through surfactant injection, our microfluidic systems simplify the formation of emulsions and enhance the efficiency of oil displacement. By triggering miscibility between the oil and aqueous phases, we promote the blending of these components, leading to improved fluid flow.
Good to know: Testing a multitude of chemicals is essential to determine the optimal chemical formula for a particular reservoir. In conjunction with phase behaviour tests and core floods, microfluidics serve as a valuable supplementary screening tool, effectively reducing both time and the associated costs.
InspIOR® Vision is our state-of-the-art software solution for process control, visualisation, and data management. Designed to streamline workflows and deliver precise results, it minimises the need for human interaction. The license for InspIOR® Vision is included in the InspIOR® microfluidics system (one license per package).
The extension module InspIOR® Vision Pro for enhanced image processing capabilities and visualisation grants you access to additional powerful features for analysing displacement and flooding results – for instance, generating recovery curves and assessing phase saturation distributions.
Together with our microfluidic system, we also offer customised and off-the-shelf micromodels. Our transparent glass-silicon-glass (GSG) micromodels provide full visual access, enabling the study of small pore throats, complex flow geometries and reservoir conditions. Additionally, you benefit from precise wettability control for accurate experiments.
Our most recent work was featured in the following publications:
Borovina, Ante, Rafael E. Hincapie, Torsten Clemens, Eugen Hoffmann, and Jonas Wegner. 2022.
Polymers. 2022; 14(24):5514.
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14245514
Calvin Lumban Gaol, Jonas Wegner and Leonhard Ganzer
Lab on a Chip, 2020, 20. Jg., Nr. 12, S. 2197-2208.
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0LC00257G
Tahir, Muhammad, Rafael E. Hincapie, Nils Langanke, Leonhard Ganzer, and Philip Jaeger. 2020.
Polymers 12, no. 6: 1227.
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12061227
Experience the power of InspIOR® and revolutionise your fluid testing processes for CCS/CCU, hydrogen and underground storage. Get in touch with us today to enjoy a full lab experience right at your fingertips, in the palm of your hand!
We invited HOT FluidicsLab to provide laboratory support in our research of potential candidates for Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) in Austria. HOT FluidicsLab never ceased to impress with their professionalism, persistence and surpassing any our expectations in delivering highly valuable and reliable data.
Dr. Clemens T., Senior Reservoir Engineering Advisor at OMV Energy
© 2023 All Rights Reserved
