Earth Scientist
Earth Scientist

Biography

Ross (Ruoshi) Cao is an Earth scientist in the Subsurface Science Group 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. He joined PNNL as a post doctoral research associate.

Education

  • 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

Affiliations and Professional Service

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

Awards and Recognitions

  • 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

Publications

2024

  • Bartels M.F., Q. Miller, R. Cao, N. Lahiri, J.E. Holliman, C.H. Stanfield, and H.T. Schaef. 2024. "Parts-Per-Million Carbonate Mineral Quantification with Thermogravimetric Analysis-Mass Spectrometry." Analytical Chemistry 96, no. 11:4385-4393. PNNL-SA-189663. doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.3c03936
  • Battu A., Q. Miller, R. Cao, A.T. Owen, and H.T. Schaef. 2024. "3D Quantification of Pore Networks and Anthropogenic Carbon Mineralization in Stacked Basalt Reservoirs." Environmental Science & Technology 58, no. 8:3747-3754. PNNL-SA-181590. doi:10.1021/acs.est.3c06163

2023

  • Cao R., K.A. Muller, Q. Miller, M.D. White, D.H. Bacon, and H.T. Schaef. 2023. "Reactive Transport Modeling of Anthropogenic Carbon Mineralization in Stacked Columbia River Basalt Reservoirs." In Proceedings of the SPE/AAPG/SEG Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, (URTC 2023), June 13-15, 2023, Denver, CO, Paper No. URTEC-3860189-MS. Richardson, Texas:Society of Petroleum Engineers. PNNL-SA-184675. doi:10.15530/urtec-2023-3860189
  • Lahiri N., Q. Miller, R. Cao, C. Depp, and H.T. Schaef. 2023. "Facile Metal Release from Pore-lining Phases Enables Unique Carbonate Zonation in a Basalt Carbon Mineralization Demonstration." Environmental Science & Technology 57, no. 32:11843-11851. PNNL-SA-182643. doi:10.1021/acs.est.3c02075

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