Maurice Dusseault, PEng

Maurice Dusseault carries out research in petroleum geomechanics (drilling, hydraulic fracturing, reservoir geomechanics), and is a world expert on new production methods, deep waste sequestration in sedimentary basins, and reservoir geomechanics.

Professor Dusseault is a registered professional engineer in Alberta and Ontario. He frequently works with governments and industry as an advisor and instructor.

• Oil sands shale gas and energy policy
• Geomechanics aspects of mining
• Petroleum and civil engineering;
• Enhanced oil recovery geomechanics
• Reservoir engineering rock mechanics (including coupled process, hydraulic fracturing, borehole stability and underground excavation)
• Salt rock mechanics
• Oil and gas well integrity
• Oil reservoir monitoring methods
• CO2 sequestration
• Deep waste disposal technology for solid and liquid wastes
• Compressed air energy storage
• Hydraulic fracturing of naturally fractured rock masses
• Work energy and stress-strain responses of stresses rock masses
• Rock-cement-casing interaction and gas seepage along oil and gas wells
• THM coupling in naturally fractured rock masses
• Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage
• Geohazards: Risks and Prevention
• Renewable Energy
• Climate Change and Geosciences

Professor Dusseault carries out research in coupled problems in geomechanics, oil production, and novel deep waste disposal technologies. He also studies geomechanics issues in CO2 sequestration, hydraulic fracturing, well leakage mechanisms, steam injection, biosolids injection, and THM coupling issues. Current projects include: Hydraulic fracturing of naturally fractured rock masses Work, energy and stress-strain responses of stresses rock masses Rock-cement-casing interaction and gas seepage along oil and gas wells THM coupling in naturally fractured rock masses Deformation monitoring of rock masses Remote non-destructive assessment of solid infrastructure condition

• PEng (Professional Engineer) provinces of Alberta and Ontario
• 1977, Doctorate Geological Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada
• 1971, Bachelor of Science (BSc) Geological Engineering, University of Alberta, Canada

• 2002-2003 Society of Petroleum Engineers Distinguished Lecturer, visiting 19 countries and 28 separate SPE sections.
• Keynote speaker at many international conferences

• 2004-2009 Member, Norwegian Research Council Evaluation Committee
• Advisor for the Iranian National Oil Company
• Advisor for the Colombian national oil company (EcoPetrol)
• Member, Scientific Advisory Council of the New Brunswick Energy Institute
• Science Advisor. Alberta Dept of Energy and the Alberta Energy Regulator
• Professional Engineer, Alberta Professional Engineers, Geophysical and Geologists Association
• Professional Engineer, Ontario Professional Engineers Organization

• Member, Society of Petroleum Engineers
• Member, Canadian Geotechnical Society
• Member, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers

• Cross appointed to Chemical Engineering and Civil Engineering
• Member, The Water Institute

• CIVE 497 - Special Topics in Civil Engineering
  • Taught in 2019, 2020
• CIVE 750 - Topics in Geotechnical Engineering
  • Taught in 2022
• EARTH 437 - Rock Mechanics
  • Taught in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• EARTH 491 - Special Topics in Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • Taught in 2019
• GEOE 495 - Design Intensive Special Topics in Geological Engineering
  • Taught in 2021, 2023, 2024

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• Malekzadeh FA, Dusseault MB 2013. A solution for the transition zone isosats in two-phase primary drainage in the presence of gravity. Computational Geosciences, July.
• Shafiei A, Zendehboudi S, Dusseault MB 2013. Mathematical Model for Steamflooding in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, (In press), DOI: 10.1021/ie302791a Publication Date (Web): April 22, 2013.
• Shafiei A, Dusseault MB 2013. Geomechanics of thermal viscous oil production in sandstones. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 103, 121-139.
• Liang WG, Yang XQ, Gao HB, Zhang CD, Zhao YS, Dusseault MB 2012. Experimental study of mechanical properties of gypsum soaked in brine. Int J of Rock Mech. & Mining Sci 53, 142-150

• US&Can 2015: US 8,978,764 CA 2,775,787 Multi-stage fracture injection process for enhanced resource production from shales. DUSSEAULT MB and Bilak R.
• United States: New Provisional Patent Application No. 61/500,966. Applicants/Inventors: DUSSEAULT, Maurice B. and MALEKZADEH, Farshad A. Process for sequestration of gasses in a formation using an unstable front of gas-saline during injection. Also applied for in a series of countries including Canada, Europe, Indonesia, China, GCC…
• United States Patent 7,922,643. Method for reducing the emission of green house gases into the atmosphere. Applicants/Inventors BILAK, Roman; BRUNO, Michael S.; ROTHENBURG, Leo; DUSSEAULT, Maurice B., Awarded April 12 2011. Also awarded in Canada #2673129; Indonesia #WO0200901912; China #200780044988.X; Europe (Intention to Grant) 07 868 988.2; Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan Turkmenistan and Russia 15025; South Africa 2009/04554; Ukraine 95005, Armenia 15025;
• The previous patent has also been applied for and is pending in the GCC (Gulf Cooperative Council); Mexico; Australia; India; South Korea.
• Canada Patent Pending 2,751,814. Process for sequestration of fluids in geological formations. DUSSEAULT, Maurice B and BILAK Roman. Pending in the following jurisdictions: Australia;China EA (Eurasia); EP (Europe); India; Indonesia; Japan; Mexico; South Africa. South Korea; United States; GCC
• Canada Patent Issued 2,775,787. Multi-stage fracture injection process for enhanced hydrocarbon production from shales. DUSSEAULT, MB; BILAK,R. Pending in the following jurisdictions: United States; Europe, China. Indonesia; Ukraine; Brazil; GCC; WIPO;
• United States Patent #6,962,561 B2, (08/11/2005); #6,491,616 B2 (10/12/2002); 6,409,650 B1 (25/06/2002) (Continuation in part of US Patent #6,287,248) Method for Biosolid Disposal and Methane Generation, Bruno MS, Bilak R, Dusseault, MB
• Patents issued outside of US and Canada: Method for Biosolid Disposal and Methane Generation: Bruno MS, Bilak R, Dusseault, MB, Australia #753,813, (13/02/2003); Mexico #232,220, (17/12/2005); Singapore #87,301, (28/12/2002); South Korea, #520,695 (05/10/2002) and #550,149 (01/02/2006), others…
• Canadian Patent #2,316,617 (08/04/2003)
• Canadian Patent #2,277,528 (2002) Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods
• United States Patent #6,002,063 (14/12/2000) Apparatus and Method for Subterranean Injection of Slurried Wastes
• United States Patent #6,287,248 (11/09/2001). Method for Biosolid Disposal And Methane Generation
• United States Patent #6,241,019 (05/06/2001) Enhancement of Flow Rates Through Porous Media
• United States Patent #6,405,797 (18/06/2002) Enhancement of Flow Rates Through Porous Media
• United Kingdom Patent #GB2324819 (12/12/2001) Enhancement of Flow Rates Through Porous Media

• January 31, 2014 (The Western Star) Professor’s position on fracking met with criticism