Current Role at Stanford

Research Engineer at the Energy Science & Engineering Department
Executive Director of the Center for Mechanistic Control of Unconventional Formations (CMC-UF)

Professional Interests

My work is currently focused on the use of imaging as a tool to characterize tight porous media. My imaging efforts toggle from nano, to micro and meso characterization using optical and X-ray imaging techniques to achieve insightful knowledge on the rock-fluid behavior of these systems. The overarching objective is to bridge scales from the nano resolution scaled images obtained from my experiments at SLAC, to micro-scale resolved at the SNSF facilities, to meso-scale imaging performed with medical CT scanners.

Professional Affiliations and Activities

  • SPE Membership Committee, SPE (2016 - 2019)
  • SPE Section and Chapter Activities Committee Chair, SPE (2015 - 2016)
  • SPE Section and Chapter Activities Committee, SPE (2014 - 2015)
  • SPE Section Director I, SPE Golden Gate Section (2013 - 2014)
  • SPE Section Chair, SPE Golden Gate Section (2012 - 2013)
  • SPE Western Regional Meeting Co-chair, SPE Western Regional Meeting (2012 - 2013)
  • SPE Section Vice-chair, SPE Golden Gate Section (2011 - 2012)
  • SPE Section Secretary and Webmaster, SPE Golden Gate Section (2008 - 2011)

All Publications

  • Coupled Transport, Reactivity, and Mechanics in Fractured Shale Caprocks WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH Murugesu, M. P., Vega, B., Ross, C. M., Kurotori, T., Druhan, J. L., Kovscek, A. R. 2024; 60 (1)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2023WR035482

    View details for Web of Science ID 001144200500001

  • Quantification of the Impact of Acidified Brine on Fracture-Matrix Transport in a Naturally Fractured Shale Using in Situ Imaging and Modeling ENERGY & FUELS Zahasky, C., Murugesu, M., Kurotori, T., Sutton, C., Druhan, J. L., Vega, B., Benson, S. M., Kovscek, A. R. 2023

    View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c01463

    View details for Web of Science ID 001040507200001

  • Mixed imbibition controls the advance of wetting fluid in multiscale geological media Advances in Water Resources Kurotori, T., Murugesu, M. P., Zahasky, C., Vega, B., Druhan, J. L., Benson, S. M., Kovscek, A. R. 2023

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.advwatres.2023.104429

  • Nano-imaging of Diatomite with Transmission X-ray Microscope Album of Porous Media: Structure and Dynamics Vega, B., Kovscek, A. R. Springer International Publishing. 2023: 113

    View details for DOI 10.1007/978-3-031-23800-0_93

  • Study of Stress Field and Fracture Network Development With Rock Analogs Album of Porous Media: Structure and Dynamics Vega, B., Kovscek, A. R. Springer International Publishing. 2023: 89

    View details for DOI 10.1007/978-3-031-23800-0_71

  • Fractal Characterization of Multimodal, Multiscale Images of Shale Rock Fracture Networks ENERGIES Vega, B., Kovscek, A. R. 2022; 15 (3)

    View details for DOI 10.3390/en15031012

    View details for Web of Science ID 000757211600001

  • 2D-to-3D image translation of complex nanoporous volumes using generative networks. Scientific reports Anderson, T. I., Vega, B., McKinzie, J., Aryana, S. A., Kovscek, A. R. 2021; 11 (1): 20768

    Abstract

    Image-based characterization offers a powerful approach to studying geological porous media at the nanoscale and images are critical to understanding reactive transport mechanisms in reservoirs relevant to energy and sustainability technologies such as carbon sequestration, subsurface hydrogen storage, and natural gas recovery. Nanoimaging presents a trade off, however, between higher-contrast sample-destructive and lower-contrast sample-preserving imaging modalities. Furthermore, high-contrast imaging modalities often acquire only 2D images, while 3D volumes are needed to characterize fully a source rock sample. In this work, we present deep learning image translation models to predict high-contrast focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) image volumes from transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) images when only 2D paired training data is available. We introduce a regularization method for improving 3D volume generation from 2D-to-2D deep learning image models and apply this approach to translate 3D TXM volumes to FIB-SEM fidelity. We then segment a predicted FIB-SEM volume into a flow simulation domain and calculate the sample apparent permeability using a lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) technique. Results show that our image translation approach produces simulation domains suitable for flow visualization and allows for accurate characterization of petrophysical properties from non-destructive imaging data.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41598-021-00080-5

    View details for PubMedID 34675247

  • RockFlow: Fast Generation of Synthetic Source Rock Images Using Generative Flow Models ENERGIES Anderson, T. I., Guan, K. M., Vega, B., Aryana, S. A., Kovscek, A. R. 2020; 13 (24)

    View details for DOI 10.3390/en13246571

    View details for Web of Science ID 000602817200001

  • Multimodal imaging and machine learning to enhance microscope images of shale COMPUTERS & GEOSCIENCES Anderson, T., Vega, B., Kovscek, A. R. 2020; 145

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cageo.2020.104593

    View details for Web of Science ID 000587352100006

  • Investigation of Stress Field and Fracture Development During Shale Maturation Using Analog Rock Systems TRANSPORT IN POROUS MEDIA Vega, B., Yang, J., Tchelepi, H., Kovscek, A. R. 2019

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s11242-019-01355-2

    View details for Web of Science ID 000494775200002

  • A systematic study of internal gas generation in shale source rocks using analog experiments JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Vega, B., Kovscek, A. R. 2019; 173: 209–21

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.petrol.2018.10.006

    View details for Web of Science ID 000455118800018

  • Detecting Opal-CT Formation Resulting from Thermal Recovery Methods in Diatomites. SPE Western Regional Meeting Ross, C. M., Vega, B., Peng, J., Ikeda, M., Lagasca, J. R., Tang, G., Kovscek, A. R. 2016

    View details for DOI 10.2118/180369-MS

  • Imaging-Aided Study of Relative Permeability Response to Temperature in Diatomaceous Rocks SPE Western Regional Meeting Vega, B., Kovscek, A. R. 2015

    View details for DOI 10.2118/174028-ms

  • Imaging-Based Characterization of Calcite-Filled Fractures and Porosity in Shales SPE Journal Vega, B., Ross, C. M., Kovscek, A. R. 2015

    View details for DOI 10.2118/2014-1922521-PA

  • Steady-State Relative Permeability Measurements, Temperature Dependency and a Reservoir Diatomite Core Sample Evolution SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Vega, B., Kovscek, A. R. 2014

    View details for DOI 10.2118/170918-MS

  • CT Imaging of Low Permeability, Dual Porosity Systems Using High X-Ray Contrast Gas Transport in Porous Media Vega, B., Dutta, A., Kovscek, A. R. 2014; 101 (1): 81-97

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s11242-013-0232-0

  • Nanoscale visualization of Gas Shale Pore and Textural Features Unconventional Resources Technology Conference Vega, B., Andrews, J., Liu, Y., Gelbs, J., Kovscek, A. R. 2013

    View details for DOI 10.1190/urtec2013-163

  • Thermally Induced Fracture Reconsolidation of Diatomite Under No Flow Conditions SPE Western Regional Meeting Vega, B., Tang, G., Kovscek, A. R. 2011

    View details for DOI 10.2118/144525-MS

  • The Effect of Temperature and Oil Viscosity Reduction on Water Imbibition of Diatomite SPE Western Regional Meeting Vega, B., Kovscek, A. R. 2010

    View details for DOI 10.2118/133132-MS

  • Experimental Investigation of Oil Recovery From Siliceous Shale by Miscible CO2 Injection SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Vega, B., O'Brien, W. J., Kovscek, A. R. 2010

    View details for DOI 10.2118/135627-MS

  • Storage of Greenhouse Gases in Oil and Gas Reservoirs Developments and innovation in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology Kovscek, A. R., Vega, B. Woodhead Publishers. 2009
  • Experimental Investigation of Oil Recovery From Siliceous Shale by CO2 Injection SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Vega, B., Kovscek, A. R., Tang, G. 2008
  • Relative Permeability Curves for Solution Gas Drive in Heavy Oils X Colombian Oil Congress Vega, B. 2003
  • Treatment of Waste Water/Oil Emulsions Using Microwave Radiation SPE Health, Safety and Environment Conference Vega, C., Delgado, M., Vega, B. 2002