Oil and Gas Vacancy, UK

Research Associate

Numerical modelling of fluid flow through complex, low permeability hydrocarbon reservoirs

Department of Earth Science and Engineering

A fixed term post for 2 years

Salary in the range £26,580 - £33,790 per annum

Applications are invited for a Research Associate to join a multidisciplinary project investigating the transport properties of complex, low permeability reservoir rocks and their impact on fluid flow and hydrocarbon recovery. You will join an integrated team of reservoir geologists and engineers, taking responsibility for the numerical modelling aspects of the research. The project is being undertaken within the Petroleum Geoscience and Engineering Research Section of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, and is funded by Norske Shell Exploration and Production B.V.

The successful applicant will lead the development and application of leading-edge reservoir modelling and flow simulation techniques to characterise and quantify the reservoir properties and fluid flow dynamics of three common types of low permeability hydrocarbon reservoir. Detailed three-dimensional models of each reservoir type will be reconstructed directly from high resolution data provided by the geologists in the team, obtained from Eocene rocks in the Western Desert of Egypt, and Mesozoic reservoirs in NW Borneo. The models will be analysed and characterised using a range of mathematical and numerical techniques, including streamline and conventional multiphase flow simulation, geostatistical methods, and percolation theory.

Applicants should be educated to PhD level (or equivalent) and have a background in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, numerate earth science or equivalent. Experience in one or more of the following areas would be desirable: reservoir modelling, reservoir engineering, reservoir simulation, computational fluid dynamics and/or numerical modelling of multi-phase flow in porous media. You will join a dynamic, close-knit, interdisciplinary research team working on a challenging project to generate new technology for improved oil and gas recovery. Your research will also contribute to the department's ongoing commitment to deliver advanced modelling capabilities for petroleum reservoir evaluation. The successful applicant will be encouraged to develop their research career over a longer timescale within this framework and to liaise closely with our industry sponsors.

Application forms and further details of the post can be found at: www.imperial.ac.uk/employment

Informal inquiries about the position can be made to Dr Matthew Jackson at the address below, e-mail m.d.jackson@imperial.ac.uk tel. ++44 (0) 20 7594 6538. Background information on the Petroleum Geoscience and Engineering Section can be found at www.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering.

Completed application form, a curriculum vitae, brief statements of research and the names and contact details of at least two referees, should be sent to Darakshan Khan, e-mail d.khan@imperial.ac.uk. You may also send two copies of your application form, curriculum vitae, publications list, and contact details of at least two referees to Mrs Darakshan Khan, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, tel. +44 (0) 20 7594 6775. Please quote PDRA/LPR2 in all correspondence.

Closing date: 13 March 2009