Geomechanics expert Gang Han leads ARMA

Aramco Americas resident geomechanics expert, Gang Han, Upstream, has become president of the American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA).

Prior to taking on the presidency, he served as ARMA vice president.  For the past six years, Han has chaired the Technical Committee on Hydraulic Fracturing, leading the largest hydraulic fracturing community with nearly 1,000 members representing 325 global organization.

He brings a broad background to his role with experience in well stimulation and productivity, reservoir management, reservoir geomechanics, rock mechanics for unconventional oil and gas, sand management and control, core testing, salt, bitumen, new drilling technology, and bit optimization.

Raising the profile of rock mechanics

Han co-chaired the ARMA's 55th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium.  He also has served as the geomechanics program chair for the Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTeC) since 2013. He has championed geomechanics into one of the largest conference themes.  The study of the behavior of soils and rocks is essential for optimizing hydraulic fracturing to capture oil and gas from unconventional reservoirs.  As the industry increases production of oil and gas from unconventional reservoirs, geomechanics specialists have become important members of research and operations teams.

Han earned his bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Petroleum (East China), a master's degree in Reservoir Engineering from the Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development in Beijing, and a doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in Canada, with a specialty in geomechanics.

“Rocks are my passion,” he said. “Witnessing rock mechanics become an increasingly respected discipline has been rewarding.”

Han aims to continue raising the profile of rock mechanics. “I look forward to advancing multidisciplinary rock physics and rock engineering technology and applications for ARMA members in various industries around the world.”