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Hang Deng
Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Department of Energy and Resources Engineering

Education

2009.09 – 2015.06   Ph.D.    Princeton University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
2005.09 – 2009.07   B.S.     Peking University, School of Environmental Sciences
2006.09 – 2009.07   B.A.     Peking University, China Center for Economic Research

Professional Experience

2009.09 – 2015.06   Ph.D.    Princeton University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
2005.09 – 2009.07   B.S.     Peking University, School of Environmental Sciences
2006.09 – 2009.07   B.A.     Peking University, China Center for Economic Research

Research Areas

  • Reactive Transport in Fractured and Porous Media
  • Environmental Geochemistry
  • Subsurface Energy and Resources Recovery
  • Geologically Oriented Negative Emission Technologies  

Research Interests

Our research group focuses on the dynamic evolution of fractured porous media and its implications for sustainable use of the subsurface, with the overarching objective of contributing to the resolution of pressing challenges regarding energy, water and environment. We use a suite of characterization techniques (e.g., high resolution micro-CT), experimental tools (e.g., fracture flow experiment) and numerical models (e.g., CFD, reactive transport models, and integrated assessment models), to study topics including

  • Fracture alteration in complex systems and the resulting impacts on hydraulic, geochemical and mechanical properties and processes
  • Mineral precipitation mechanisms and precipitation-driven evolution of physical-chemical processes
  • Coupling between multiphase flow dynamics and (bio)geochemical reactions
  • Upscaling of multi-physical problems
  • The techno-economic implications of coupled processes in systems such as geologic carbon storage, enhanced weathering in soil environment, waste disposal, and (un)conventional oil and gas production 

Selected Recent Publications

Note：correspondence author(s) are marked by “*”  
H. Deng*, H. Breunig, J. Apte, J., Y. Qin, An Early Career Perspective on the Opportunities and Challenges of Team Science, Environmental Science & Technology, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c08322.

H. Deng*, J. Poonoosamy, S. Molins, A reactive transport modeling perspective on the dynamics of interface-coupled dissolution-precipitation, Applied Geochemistry, 2022, 137, 105207.

P. Li, H. Deng*, S. Molins, The Effect of Pore-Scale Two-Phase Flow on Mineral Reaction Rates, Frontiers in Water, 2022, https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.734518.

Q. Zhang, H. Deng*, Y. Dong*, S. Molins, X. Li, C.I. Steefel, Investigation of coupled processes in fractures and the bordering matrix via a micro-continuum reactive transport model, Water Resources Research, 2022, e2021WR030578.

H. Deng*, C. Tournassat, S. Molins, F. Claret, C.I. Steefel, A Pore‐Scale Investigation of Mineral Precipitation Driven Diffusivity Change at the Column‐Scale, Water Resources Research, 2021, doi: 10.1029/2020WR028483.

H. Deng*, A. Navarre-Sitchler, E. Heil, C. Peters, Addressing Water and Energy Challenges with Reactive Transport Modeling, Environmental Engineering Science, 2021, 38(3), pp 109-114.

H. Deng*, J. Fitts, T.V. Ryan, J.J. Kim, C.A. Peters, Acid erosion of carbonate fractures and accessibility of arsenic-bearing minerals: In Operando synchrotron-based microfluidics experiment, Environmental Science & Technology, 2020, 54(19), pp 12502–12510. 

H. Deng*, N. Spycher, Modeling Reactive Transport Processes in Fractures, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 2019, 85(1), pp 49-74.

H. Deng*, S. Molins, D. Trebotich, C.I. Steefel, D.J. DePaolo, Pore-scale numerical investigation of the impacts of surface roughness: upscaling of reaction rates in rough fractures, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2018, 239, pp 374-389.

H. Deng*, C.I. Steefel, S. Molins, D.J. DePaolo. Fracture Evolution in Multimineral Systems: The Role of Mineral Composition, Flow Rate, and Fracture Aperture Heterogeneity. Earth and Space Chemistry, 2018, 22 (2), pp 112-124.

H. Deng*, M. Voltolini, S. Molins, C.I. Steefel, D.J. DePaolo, J. Ajo-Franklin, L. Yang. Alteration and Erosion of Rock Matrix Bordering a Carbonate-Rich Shale Fracture. Environmental Science & Technology, 2017, 51 (15), pp 8861–8868.

H. Deng*, J.M. Bielicki, M. Oppenheimer, J.P. Fitts, C.A. Peters. Leakage Risks of Geologic CO2 Storage and the Impacts on the Global Energy System and Climate Change Mitigation. Climatic Change, 2017, 144 (2), pp 151-163.

H. Deng*, S. Molins, C.I. Steefel, D.J. DePaolo, M. Voltolini, L. Yang, J. Ajo-Franklin. A 2.5D Reactive Transport Model for Fracture Alteration Simulation. Environmental Science & Technology, 2016, 50 (14), pp 7564-7571.

H. Deng, J.P. Fitts, D. Crandall, D. McIntyre, C.A. Peters*. Alterations of Fractures in Carbonate Rocks by CO2-acidified Brines. Environmental Science & Technology, 2015, 49(16), pp 10226-10234.

H. Deng, B.R. Ellis, C.A. Peters*, J.P. Fitts, D. Crandall, G.S. Bromhal, Modifications of Carbonate Fracture Hydrodynamic Properties by CO2-acidified Brine Flow. Energy & Fuels, 2013, 27(8), pp 4221-4231.

Invited Talks and Guest Lectures

  • “Integrated Experimental and Modeling Investigations of Reactive Transport Processes in Fractured Shale in Hydraulic Fracturing Systems”, AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans (hybrid), U.S.A., 2021.
  • “Mineral precipitation driven alteration of fractured porous media – a pore scale perspective”, Keynote, Goldschmidt Conference (virtual), July, 2021. 
  • “Multi-scale investigation of the dynamic evolution of mineral coating”, American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition (virtual), April, 2021.
  • “Key controls and impacts of reaction-driven alteration of fracture-matrix interface”, AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco (virtual), U.S.A., 2020.
  • “Modeling Reactive Transport Processes in Fractures”, MSA Short Course: Reactive Transport in Natural and Engineered Systems, Goldschmidt Conference, Barcelona, Spain, Aug, 2019.
  • “Pore-scale investigations of local heterogeneity on reactivity and transport properties”, 11th International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry, Beijing, China, Aug, 2019.
  • “Geochemical alteration of shale fractures and the bordering rock matrix”, American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, Orlando, FL, Mar, 2019.
  • Seminars & Guest lectures:
    • Stanford University, Energy Resources Engineering Graduate Seminar Series, Jan, 2022.
    • Auburn University, Southeast CO2 Capture, Utilization and Storage Initiative Seminar, Nov, 2021.
    • Arizona State University, Hydrosystems Engineering Seminar, Oct, 2021.
    • Cornell University, Flow in Porous Media and Groundwater Hydrology (guest lecture), April, 2021.
    • University at Buffalo, Environmental Fluid Dynamics (guest lecture), Oct, 2020.

Professional Activities and Services

  • Environmental Science & Technology’s Inaugural Early Career Editorial Advisory Board (2021-2023).
  • Hydrology Section Program Committee, American Geophysical Union Fall meeting (2019-2022), Chair in 2021.
  • Organizing Committee, 11th International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry, Beijing, China, Aug, 2019.
  • Guest editors:
    • Greenhouse Gases: Science & Technology: special issue “Negative Emission Technologies”, 2022-
    • Frontiers in Water and Frontiers in Sustainability: research topic “Management of Unconventional Water Resources”, 2021-
    • Applied Geochemistry: special issue “Applied geochemistry in porous media: Interplay of chemical reactions, physical alteration, and flow phenomena”, 2020-
    • Environmental Engineering Science: special issue "Addressing Society’s Water and Energy Challenges with Reactive Transport Modeling", 2020