My research focuses on understanding karst system formation and contaminant transport in underground reservoirs, as well as the decontamination of treated wastewater through its infiltration through natural reactive barriers. I have published over 65 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and lead the Porous Media Transport research team at Geosciences Montpellier. In 2022, I received the Michel Gouilloud Schlumberger Prize from the French Academy of Sciences for my research.

Research Themes

Karst System Formation

Laboratory reactive percolation experiments to simulate preferential flow path formation in porous rocks while accounting for structural heterogeneities. Continuous geoelectrical monitoring of percolated media allows linking structural and hydrodynamic properties of heterogeneous media with electrical properties. This work builds fundamental understanding of how karst conduits develop through dissolution processes at multiple scales.

Reactive percolation experiment

Nature-Based Water Decontamination

Development of batch and column laboratory experiments to study wastewater decontamination through nature-based reactive barriers. This new research direction, developed over the past 4 years, has led to a strong collaboration with the Faculty of Pharmacy and the ContEm team at Hydrosciences Montpellier. The goal is to develop sustainable, cost-effective treatment solutions for emerging contaminants.

Column experiment schema

Saltwater Intrusion & Coastal Aquifers

Investigation of seawater intrusion dynamics in coastal aquifers using innovative monitoring techniques including time-lapse cross-hole electrical resistivity tomography (CHERT), fiber optic DTS, and hydrogeochemical analysis. Field studies at the Argentona research site in Spain and the Fimela site in Senegal contribute to understanding groundwater salinization processes.

Saltwater intrusion diagram

CO2 Geological Storage

Experimental and numerical study of rock-fluid interactions during CO2 injection in geological reservoirs. This includes characterization of porosity, permeability, and reactive surface changes at the pore scale using X-ray microtomography, as well as understanding caprock integrity and dissolution/precipitation processes in carbonates and sandstones.

3D neutron tomography of minerals

Managed Aquifer Recharge

Development of reactive barriers for water renaturalization during managed aquifer recharge. Research combines laboratory column experiments with field-scale investigations to optimize nature-based solutions for removing emerging contaminants from treated wastewater before aquifer recharge. Active projects in Spain (LIFE-REMAR) and France (COMPAQUI).

Reactive column experiment

Fault Alteration & Geothermal Energy

Study of alteration processes in active fault zones and their link with tectonic activity, applied to geothermal reservoir characterization. Current work focuses on the Nojima fault (Japan) using neutron and X-ray microtomography for 3D imaging of alteration phases in faulted granodiorite, contributing to sustainable geothermal energy development.

Nojima fault mineral analysis

Research Projects