PNNL

Ross (Ruoshi) Cao is a post doctoral research associate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). He conducts regional-scale site screening, geological modeling, and sensitivity analyses using geological and geophysical data on key parameters governing reservoir viability for sustainable long-term CO₂ injection. He also works on the validation of numerical simulation, characterization, and monitoring approaches necessary to support successful Class VI well application and demonstration for carbon storage in mafic reservoirs.

Ross is actively involved in community engagement to help build advocacy, facilitate dialogs, and collaboratively address non-technical barriers to Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) development in the Pacific Northwest region and beyond.  

• Doctor of Philosophy, Geology, Oklahoma State University
• Master of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina
• Master of Science, Environmental Management, Samford University
• Bachelor of Science, Exploration Geophysics, Jilin University

• American Geophysical Union
• Geological Society of America
• Society of Exploration Geophysicists

• Third Place in Chevron E-Week Student Competition, University of Southern California, 2022
• Second Place in Baker Hughes Innovation in Decarbonization Contest, Oklahoma State University, 2021
• Bighorn Basin Field Award, GSA/ExxonMobil, 2015
• Third Place at Imperial Barrel Award Eastern Section, AAPG, and the AAPG Foundation, 2015

2021

• Cao R., J. Knapp, P. Bikkina, and R. Esposito. 2021. “CO2 Storage Potential Reconnaissance of the Newly Identified Red Beds of Hazlehurst in the Southeastern United States.” Frontiers in Energy Research 9:793300. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2021.793300