Jose Lopez-Salinas, Leyu Cui and Kun Ma for all their help with the
laboratory experiments.
Many other students and research staff in Dr. Miller’s and Dr. Hirasaki’s
laboratories have offered me help and their friendships too. I am grateful to this
group of people.
I want to acknowledge the financial support of Rice University Consortium
on Processes in Porous Media and Syncrude Canada Ltd., Edmonton Research
Centre.
At the end, I would like to thank my family for their support and
encouragement.
iv