Research in the energy sector requires experimental approaches and numerical modeling to understand various technical challenges. One researcher with experience in these fields is Dr.-Ing. Calvin Lumban Gaol, S.T., M.Sc., Senior Researcher at OGRINDO ITB.
With an educational background from Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) and TU Clausthal, Germany, Calvin has academic and professional experience in petroleum engineering, particularly in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS).
Educational Background and Academic Journey
Calvin completed his Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) in 2009. He subsequently earned a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering in 2015 and Doctor of Engineering in 2020 from TU Clausthal, Jerman.
His doctoral research, entitled "Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Pore-Scale Mechanisms of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) Using a Microfluidics Approach", examined MEOR mechanisms at the pore scale through microfluidic approaches, experiments, and numerical modeling.
Throughout his professional career, Calvin worked as a Reservoir Engineer at LAPI ITB (2009–2013) and as a Scientific Staff at the Institute of Subsurface Energy Systems, TU Clausthal (2016–2019). Subsequently, from 2020 to 2023, he served as a lecturer and Head of EOR Research Group at the same institution, where he was responsible for supervising and coordinating EOR and CCUS research projects.
Since 2023, he has been a lecturer in the Petroleum Engineering Department at Institut Teknologi Bandung.
Areas of Expertise and Research Experience
Calvin's expertise covers four main areas:
- Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS).
- Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR).
- Microfluidics and Core Flooding Systems.
- Numerical Simulation.
His research experience includes experimental analysis of conformance controlmethods, evaluation of the effects of polymer viscoelasticity in EOR applications, as well as MEOR and polymer flooding research using microfluidic approaches and micromodels.
In addition, he has been involved in various reservoir engineering and consulting projects, including:
- CO₂-EGR Simulation (2025–2026): Studi Vorwata-Roabiba Migration and Coupled Model for BP Berau Ltd.
- Microfluidic Model and CO₂ Microbubble EOS Modeling (2024–2026): Pengujian model mikofluida dan pemodelan EOS microbubble CO₂ for PT Pertamina.
- Conceptual CCS, CCUS, and Oil Rim Study (2024–2025): A conceptual study of Jambaran-Tiung Biru for PT Pertamina EP Cepu.
Scientific Publication
Calvin has also published research in international journals, particularly on MEOR mechanisms and the application of microfluidics in the development of EOR technologies. Two of his publications are:
- Parameters Govern Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery (MEOR) Performance in Real-Structure Micromodels, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering (2021).
- Real Structure Micromodels Based on Reservoir Rocks for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Applications, Lab on a Chip (2020).
Getting to Know OGRINDO ITB
OGRINDO ITB (Oil and Gas Recovery for Indonesia) is a research collaboration platform that promotes research and innovation in the energy sector, including EOR and energy transition.
Interested in learning more about OGRINDO ITB's services, research activities, or collaboration opportunities? Contact us through:
Email: info@ogrindoitb.com
Website: https://ogrindoitb.com/
