Yang Fang works for the Illinois State Geological Survey as a reservoir engineer, conducting reservoir simulations to identify and optimize field development options for the use of CO2 in Enhanced Oil Recovery and geological storage to reduce CO2 emissions in the atmosphere.
Q. What is the best part of your job?
A. It is meaningful. We seek to extract more oil and gas in better ways to meet energy needs and inject CO2 in the subsurface to slow down global warming.
Q. What part of your job would be surprising to non-scientists?
A. We can actually “see” the subsurface through technology, and we use what we see and what we can do to plan future in terms of providing energy and environment solutions.
Q. What project or accomplishment are you most proud of?
A. One of my projects showed significant CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery and storage potential of an oilfield. Field tests and a pilot development proposal has been submitted to facilitate a new CO2 EOR industry in Illinois.
Q. What drew you to your field?
A. I chose petroleum geology for my undergraduate study because I was under the impression that geology will take me to places far away from home. That is not really true, but I became fond of geology when I knew more about it. Later, I switched my field into petroleum engineering during my graduate studies because I like the application aspects of research.
Q. What advice would you give to other female scientists?
A. Enjoy what you do or make it enjoyable! Really live your life so you have a lot to share.