I am a geoscientist and a PhD candidate at the High-Pressure and Temperature (HPT) laboratory, Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University.
My current PhD research focuses on the exploitation of mine water thermal energy storage from abandoned underground coal mines in Europe. This work is part of the GeoSolar project, funded by the European Commission's Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS). Integrated with solar systems, this storage technology supplies heated water to nearby districts during winter, while cold water is reinjected into the reservoir for reheating in summer, providing a low-carbon heating solution.
My PhD research objectives include:
Conducting experiments to characterize thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) behaviors of fractured rock mass and goaf rocks within the mines.
Developing fully coupled THM numerical models to simulate fluid-heat dynamics and geomechanics for assessing geomechanical challenges, involving storage stability, ground surface deformation, mine water & groundwater rebound, and the potential for induced seismicity & fault reactivation.
Evaluating the long-term efficiency of energy storage systems during the operational phase to prevent premature thermal breakthrough risk.
Academic background: I hold a Master of Engineering in Mining and Georesources Engineering, where my research focused on mining geomechanics, hydromechanical (HM) coupling process in pit slopes, and the application of 3D-distinct element method in pit slope stability analysis. I also earned a Bachelor of Science in Geotechnology (honors), with a thesis on petroleum geology and seismic interpretation of basement plays in the Gulf of Thailand.
Work experience: I have over six years of professional experience as an engineering geologist in mining and geotechnical companies. My expertises are both short-term and long-term slope designs, HM coupling in mine slopes, geotechnical investigation, slope performance monitoring, geotechnical risk assessment, and geotechnical modelling.