PhD Candidate in Reservoir technology and engineering for CO2 storage (IVT-108/09)


«BIGCCS – International CCS Research Centre» is one of eight centres established by the Norwegian Research Council (Norges Forskningsråd) under the scheme of Environmentally Friendly Research Centres (CEER).

The main objective of the BIGCCS Centre is to contribute to the ambitious targets of the Climate Agreement adopted by the Norwegian Parliament in February 2008. The BICCS Centre focuses on sustainable power generation from fossil fuels based on cost-effective CO2 capture, safe transport, and underground storage of CO2. This will be achieved through development of expertise and closing critical knowledge gaps in the CO2 chain, and through development of novel technologies in an extensive collaborative research effort.

With 21 partners, a period of eight years, and a budget of NOK 400 million, the BIGCCS Centre is the largest CCS R&D project in Europe.

Web:
http://www.sintef.no/Projectweb/BIGCCS
http://www.forskningsradet.no/

Improved understanding of short and long-term effects of CO2 and impurities in the CO2 stream on the chemistry of fluids and minerals in the storage formation, the cap rock and in shallower geology is crucial. Experiments should be performed to assess geochemical reactions in reservoir, caprocks and wellbore materials. These results can be used to calibrate reaction-transport modelling aimed at predicting long term behaviour. Another important research topic is to develop up-scaling procedures and guidelines for calculation of dissolution of CO2 in mobile fluid phases for different numerical grids and geological heterogeneities. Laboratory measurements of CO2 behaviour in rocks, including capillary trapping of residual (not mobile) CO2 saturation are planned.

Suitable background:
Reservoir engineering, physics, chemistry.

Contact:


Salaries
PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017 in the State salary scale 45-51, gross NOK 355 400 to NOK 394 200 per annum (before tax), depending on qualifications.
PhD candidates are normally remunerated at wage level 45. There will be a 2 % deduction to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Found from gross salary.

Other information
For PhD research fellowships the engagement period is either 3 years or alternatively 4 years, including 25 % of teaching assistance at the bachelor’s and master’s degree level. A master degree is requisite for application for PhD fellowships, an average grade of B or better is required. For more information on PhD studies at NTNU see http://www.ntnu.no/studies/phd

The appointment of the PhD fellows will be made according to Norwegian guidelines for universities and university colleges. Applicants for a PhD position are obliged to engage on an organized research program, and appointment requires approval of the applicant’s plan for PhD study. The candidates will be part of a larger interdisciplinary research group within the project they are connected to, and are expected to contribute actively part to the common objectives of the project. The position adheres to the Norwegian Government’s policy of balanced ethnicity, age and gender. Persons with immigrant background are encouraged to apply. NTNU’s objective is to increase the number of females in scientific positions. Female applicants are therefore encouraged to apply.

All applicants must be able to communicate fluently in English (in speaking and writing). Applicants must indicate their level skills in English.

All applications shall include certified copies of academic transcript, TOEFL score and CV, and be submitted electronically through this page. The attachments to the applications shall be gathered in one single file.

Application deadline: 20 November 2009.