The PIVOT2023 Jordan Nielson Disruptive R&D Competition

This session features:
Pengju Xing, Research Associate, Energy & Geoscience Institute at the University of Utah
Rita Esuru Okoroafor, Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University
-John D. Klaerner, Research Engineer, Southwest Research Institute
Rodrigo Alarcón, Professor, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
Malcolm Ross, University Professional, Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas
Dani Merino-Garcia, R&D Lead, Project InnerSpace
About the Speaker:
Dr. Xing is a Research Associate at EGI, the University of Utah. Dr. Xing has over 8 years’ working experience on geomechanics/geothermal, both in industry and academics, in numerical simulations and experiments. He has experience in developing analytical solutions, numerical codes, field experiments to various geothermal applications: numerical modeling of the stimulation for FORGE (Enhanced Geothermal System); in-situ stresses measurements for geothermal reservoir; prediction of formation properties with machine learning using geothermal well drilling data; simulation of the circulation in Raft River EGS project, and etc.
Dr. Rita Esuru Okoroafor is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University, specializing in the application of oil and gas skills and techniques to address challenges associated with low-carbon energy technologies. Dr. Okoroafor earned her Ph.D. in Energy Resources Engineering from Stanford University, where she honed her expertise in Energy Resources. Prior to pursuing her doctorate, she was a Principal Reservoir Engineer at SLB, an organization she worked with for 13 years. During her tenure, she contributed her expertise to various product lines and locations, demonstrating her versatility and proficiency.
Her research encompasses several crucial areas, including geothermal reservoir engineering, carbon dioxide storage and utilization, geologic storage of hydrogen, and reservoir geomechanics. By exploring these domains, Dr. Okoroafor aims to unlock new possibilities for sustainable energy sources and improve the understanding and management of valuable energy resources. Outside of work, she is an author of two novels.
John Klaerner is a Research Engineer in the Rotating Machinery Dynamics Section at Southwest Research Institute® in San Antonio, Texas. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University where he began his studies of large machinery and various power systems. His professional experience at SwRI has allowed for continuing in machinery design and thermal analysis, mostly related to equipment being used in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (SCO2) cycles. These focuses have led to further experience in instrumentation, commissioning, and testing of individual cycle components, full SCO2 test loops, and other energy storage programs.
Dani Merino-Garcia is R&D Lead in Project Innerspace. He is a chemical engineer by training, and his career in Oil and Gas lasted for 16 years, moving from Flow Assurance Specialist to R&D Manager for E&P Surface Technologies in REPSOL; his last gig prior to joining InnerSpace was as Manager of the Deep Tech team in Repsol Technology Lab, covering a portfolio of disruptive technologies to support the decarbonization of all Repsol business lines.