Information for Candidates

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                                 School of GeoSciences
                                 University of Edinburgh
                             Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Industry-funded Post Doctoral Research Assistantship on the habitat of remaining oil
in Carbonates from lab to reservoir scale and EOR Strategies

A post-doctoral research assistant is sought for a project to constrain the habitat of
remaining oil in carbonate rocks from lab to reservoir scale, together with EOR
strategies. The project is funded for 24 months from 1 July 2011 (or by negotiation) and is a
collaboration between the School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh and the
Institute of Petroleum Engineering at Heriot-Watt University and forms part of the
International Centre for Carbonate Research (www.geos.ed.ac.uk/iccr)

Carbonate rocks host over 60% of the world’s remaining hydrocarbon resources.
Understanding the habitat of remaining oil in a carbonate reservoir is key to understanding
the optimum strategy for improving oil recovery, but there are many settings and scales in
which residual oil can be found. Oil can be trapped at the pore scale, in stratigraphic genetic
elements, or be constrained by diagenesis. The approach taken here will be to develop
generic models at the mechanistic scale based on field cases. These will combine
depositional, diagenetic heterogeneity and structural domain information.

You must have doctoral-level experience in either petroleum geology, hydrogeology,
geophysics, physics or petroleum engineering, or related subjects.

This is a fixed-term post for 24 months from 1 July 2011.

Salary Grade UE07: £29,853 - £35,646.

Full Time for 24 months, based in Edinburgh.

Closing Date: 4 weeks after advert
                              School of GeoSciences
                              University of Edinburgh
                         Postdoctoral Research Assistant
Industry-funded Post Doctoral Research Assistantship on the habitat of remaining oil
            in Carbonates from lab to reservoir scale and EOR Strategies
                          Salary Scale: £29,853 - £35,646

                                 Vacancy Reference: 3014202



1. Job Details

Job title:                             PDRA on the habitat of remaining oil in Carbonates
                                       from lab to reservoir scale and EOR Strategies

School/Support Department:             GeoSciences

Line manager:                          Dr Rachel Wood

Start date and duration:               01 July 2011 for 24 months



2. Job Purpose

Carbonate rocks host over 60% of the world’s remaining hydrocarbon resources.
Understanding the habitat of remaining oil in a carbonate reservoir is key to understanding
the optimum strategy for improving oil recovery. The oil can be remaining at the pore scale,
in stratigraphic genetic elements, in intra-reservoir structural traps (intra-reservoir attics), in
the matrix and or within fractures in a fractured system. Water can bypass oil at the pore
scale, at the bed (genetic unit) scale at the parasequence scale, along diagenetic horizons
(erosional karsts), along structural partings (stylolites) and through faults. In summary, there
are many habitats in which residual oil can be found.

The approach taken here will be to develop generic models at the mechanistic scale –
based on field cases provided by the sponsors. One approach would be to model the
depositional/diagenetic heterogeneity and the second approach will be to model a structural
domain. A consistent approach will be taken so that the models can ultimately be combined.
Various well configurations (geometry and patterns for producer/injectors) will be informed
by operations of the sponsors.


3. Main Responsibilities

       To develop generic models at the mechanistic scale based on field cases provided
        by the sponsors
       To model depositional/diagenetic heterogeneity
       To model a structural domain



4. Knowledge, Skills and Experience Needed for the Job
Qualifications and experience
Essential

           A good first degree in a numerate science subject
           A PhD (or close to completion) in geology, hydrogeology, petroleum engineering
            or related areas
           Experience in carbonate depositional and/or diagenetic processes
           Experience of modelling
           Excellent communication, presentation, written and organisational skills.
           Ability to work independently and as a team member
           Good written and oral English language


Desirable
         Experience of presenting scientific projects/concepts to a range of audiences
         Experience of programming


5. Informal enquiries
Informal inquiries are welcome: please contact Dr Rachel Wood (Rachel.Wood@ed.ac.uk,
+44 131 650 6014).

6. The University of Edinburgh
For information about the University of Edinburgh, please visit http://www.ed.ac.uk/about/

7. The College of Science and Engineering
For information about the College of Science and Engineering, please visit
http://www.scieng.ed.ac.uk/About/index.asp

8. The School of GeoSciences
For information about the School of GeoSciences, please visit www.geos.ed.ac.uk

The School of GeoSciences is one of seven academic Schools within the College of
Science & Engineering. It encompasses the cognate disciplines of Geography, Geology,
Geophysics, Ecology and Atmospheric Sciences. The School thus brings together interests
in the earth’s surface, interior and atmospheric processes, together with the natural
environment and human society.

In the most recent (2007) national (UK) Research Assessment Exercise, "Earth Systems
and Environmental Science" was ranked first in terms of the volume of international and
world leading research (as tabulated by the journal Nature). The breadth of our research
covers both "Earth Systems and Environmental Science" and "Geography and
Environmental Studies" and our combined RAE score demonstrated that 66% of the
research carried out in the School as a whole was rated within the top two
categories: "world-leading" and "internationally excellent". In June 2008 the Times Higher
rated Edinburgh as in the world top 8 for Ecology and Environment research. The School is
the largest single holder of NERC awards in the UK and has a total annual research income
of over £9M.

Our research and teaching includes topics such as climate change, ecosystem protection,
earthquake prediction, sustainable development and human identities. Our research activity
is currently coordinated within five main Research Groups – Global Change, Earth and
Planetary Science, Edinburgh Earth Observatory, Human Geography and the Centre for
Environmental Change and Sustainability. The post will be affiliated with the Global Change
Research Group; secondary membership of other research groups is encouraged.

The School is extremely well-equipped for research in the Geosciences. The School houses
an impressive range of facilities and services and is involved with a number of collaborative
centres of research excellence. For example, we have a wide range of high-tech facilities for
the analysis of rocks, minerals and fluids, for isotope analysis and measurement of the
physical properties of rocks. We have excellent facilities and expertise for scientific
computing, for instance in geographic information systems, meteorological models and
geophysics. We also place a strong emphasis on field measurement techniques in
ecological, atmospheric and earth sciences. For teaching, Lecture Theatres are centrally
managed and shared with other Schools. We have a number of dedicated and 'open'
computing laboratories within School premises. Laboratories are managed by the School
which enables us to provide Honours students with personal workspace.

9. Terms of employment
The position is available for 24 months and is available from July 1, 2011.

Salary: Grade UE07, £29,853 - £35,646

10. UKBA Certificate of Sponsorship
Should you require a visa to undertake paid employment in the UK you will be required to
fulfil the minimum points criteria to be granted a Certificate of Sponsorship and Tier 2 visa.
As appropriate, at the time an offer of appointment is made to you, you will be asked to
demonstrate that you fulfil the criteria in respect of financial maintenance and competency in
English.

11. Application Procedure
We encourage all applicants to apply online at www.jobs.ed.ac.uk. The application process
is quick and easy to follow, and you will receive email confirmation of safe receipt of your
application. The online system allows you to submit a CV.

If you do not have access to a computer, you can call our recruitment line on +44 (0)131 650
2511 for an application pack. This will be posted out to you for you to complete and return.
Please return the Application form and all enclosures (except the equal opportunities form)
to Faten Adam, School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, The Grant Institute,
The King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JW by the closing date of 4 weeks past advert date.
Return the equal opportunities form in the separate prepaid envelope.

To complete the application process both online and in paper format, you need to complete
the (i) Application Form, (ii) Additional Personal Information Form, (iii) Equality & Diversity
Monitoring Form, and (iv) Rehabilitation of Offenders Form. Please also include a brief
statement addressing how your application meets the Person Specification and the names
and addresses of 2 referees. We cannot guarantee to consider late applications.

Interviews will be held in Edinburgh in May 2011.

Please quote reference no: 3014202

The University reserves the right to vary the candidate information or make no
appointment at all. Neither in part, nor in whole does this information form part of any
contract between the University and any individual