Research Officer in Reservoir Conditions Experimentation

Fixed term appointment until 31 December 2012 in the first instance.

The greatest scientific and technological challenge of this century is how to provide energy to a growing global population, while avoiding dangerous climate change. Part of this endeavour is the development of clean fossil fuel technology, including carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage, in combination with novel methods of enhanced oil recovery. Supercritical CO2 (scCO2) relative permeability with in-situ saturation and the monitoring of reservoir rocks data is vital but is a poorly understood piece of the puzzle, requiring a long-term strategy. We are looking for someone with the ability to take on this challenge. 

You are invited to join Imperial College’s largest research project, secured through long-term industrial funding. The project is funded through major long-term support from Qatar Petroleum and Shell International for the Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Research Centre (QCCSRC). You will join a large interdisciplinary team in the QCCSRC working on all aspects of carbon storage. QCCSRC is enabling Imperial College London to expand its research into Clean Fossil Fuels significantly - aimed in particular at improving the energy efficiency of oil and gas recovery, closely coupled with reducing greenhouse gas emissions through advanced carbon capture and storage technologies. The Centre is a collaboration between the Department of Earth Science and Engineering and the Department of Chemical Engineering. This position covers the technical aspects of reservoir condition experimental design, operation and knowledge transfer including the day-to-day functionality of equipment within a broader work package of understanding carbonate reservoir pore/fracture-scale physics and chemistry.

QCCSRC has a number of reservoir-condition (high temperature/high pressure - HTHP) experimental setups in addition to more conventional thermophysics and rock core analysis equipment. A major item of equipment, yet to be fully designed, is an HTHP scCO2 relative permeability rig including in-situ saturation measurement through the use of a medical CT scanner. It is our intention that the Research Officer’s primary role will be to take the lead role in co-ordinating the design and implementation of this new cutting edge relative permeability rig with in-situ saturation monitoring. There is likely to be interactions with stakeholders regarding equipment design in the Netherlands and Qatar that may require prolonged visits.

Experience in research and experimentation relevant to the oil and gas industry and or carbon sequestration, particularly design, construction and operation of high temperature and high pressure apparatus are essential.

Informal enquiries can be made to the QCCSRC Programme Manager, Dr Iain Macdonald via email: i.macdonald@imperial.ac.uk or via Telephone on 020 75945587.

Apply online by 20 September 2010 at http://www.imperial.ac.uk/employment and enter EN20100179 for the link to the Job.