Research Infrastructure

The FluidFlower systems are custom-built, modular experimental platform designed to study meter-scale fluid flow in porous media across multiple systems.  

The FluidFlower family of research rigs consists of three main setups: 

• Mini (A4-sized) – Used for education, outreach, and rapid prototyping. Ideal for student training and public demonstrations.
• Medium (meter-scale) – Supports parametric studies and is integrated with digital twin technology for real-time data analysis and simulation.
• Large (6 m²) – A unique facility for detailed studies of geological carbon storage (GCS), model validation, and benchmarking. It has been used as a physical reference in international validation studies. 

FluidFlower is tightly integrated with digital tools developed in collaboration with the Porous Media Group at Dept. of Mathematics: 

• PoroTwin – A digital twin framework that connects real-time experimental data with physics-based simulations. It enables automated monitoring, hybrid modeling, and enhanced simulation accuracy.
• DarSIA – An open-source Python toolbox for image analysis in porous media. It bridges experimental and numerical work by enabling reproducible, two-scale data analysis and comparison of multimodal datasets. 

These tools and facilities are central to several ongoing research projects and provide a unique environment for Master’s and PhD students to engage in cutting-edge experimental and computational research. 

State-of-the-art core flooding facility designed for Darcy-scale experimental studies of fluid flow in porous media under reservoir-relevant conditions. It supports both routine and advanced core analysis, enabling high-precision measurements of multiphase flow properties. This infrastructure enables detailed investigation of flow dynamics, displacement efficiency, and transport phenomena in geological materials. 

Key capabilities include: 

• High-pressure, high-temperature core flooding rigs capable of operating up to 250 bar and 120°C
• Hassler-type core holders housed in temperature-controlled cabinets
• Titanium accumulators,  and pressure transducers for accurate flow control and monitoring
• A custom-built setup for bulk flow experiments under controlled thermal and pressure conditions
• A professional-grade fume hood for safe handling of chemicals and hydrocarbons 

Microfluidics technology is dedicated to pore-scale visualization and analysis of multiphase flow in porous media under realistic reservoir conditions.  

Custom-designed microfluidic chips that replicate two-dimensional porous structures with representative pore geometries, enabling direct observation of fluid behavior at the microscale. 

Key capabilities include: 

• Operation at pressures up to 150 bar and temperatures up to 60°C
• A Zeiss microscope with fluorescence imaging and an automated scanning stage for high-resolution, stitched imaging
• In-situ visualization of fluid displacement, interfacial dynamics, and microbial activity in artificial porous systems 

This facility supports fundamental research on pore-scale processes and serves as a bridge between experimental observation and numerical modeling. It is actively used in both research projects and student theses work. 

MRI - Equinor

In collaboration with Equinor, our group has access to a 4.7 T Magnetic Resonance Imager (MRI). This is a technique that uses strong magnetic fields, magnetic gradients, and radio waves to create detailed 3D images. The radiofrequency coil (RF-coil) located inside the MRI-scanner uses radio waves to excite protons to a higher energy state. The re-emitted energy is detected, and the signal decay or relaxation time is used to identify the density, location, and molecular structure and environment of the hydrogen atom. 

The 4.7 Tesla MRI scanner at the Equinor lab is used for: 

• Studying hydrate formation, phase transitions, and fluid interactions in sedimentary systems
• Current focus on underground hydrogen storage

PET-Centre Laboratory – Haukeland University Hospital

Through a long-standing collaboration, our group operates a physics laboratory at the PET-centre, equipped with: 

• A custom-built core analysis setup for high-pressure flow experiments
• Access to four medical imaging scanners:
• Clinical PET/CT and PET/MRI
• Small-animal PET/CT and PET/MRI 

These facilities enable advanced imaging and flow studies under realistic subsurface conditions.