High gas-oil ratio is one of the main problems during late production stage of oil from petroleum reservoirs. It has a number of negative consequences including reduced oil production rates and oil recovery, early shut-in of production wells, excessive amounts of flared gas, loss of energy drive and downstream processing problems. Moreover, hydrocarbon gases such as methane are greenhouse gas (GHG) with a prospective global warming 80 times greater than CO2 over two decades. A well integrity failure is recognized as the main reason of gas leakage from oil and gas wells. However, other sources such as propagation of natural and artificially induced fractures due to long-term geomechanical failure and emission from surface facilities and pipelines are also reported.
In this study, the student will formulate new environmentally friendly crosslinked nanocomposite gels from wastes to stop gas flow into the oil wells at near wellbore region and deep into the reservoir. The materials to be used are extracted from food and agricultural wastes reinforced with nanomaterials.
Candidates should have (or expect to achieve) a UK honours degree at 2.1 or above (or equivalent) in Petroleum Engineering or Chemistry or Chemical Engineering or Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering or Material Engineering with an essential background in Petroleum engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
• Apply for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering
• State name of the lead supervisor as the Name of Proposed Supervisor
• State ‘Self-funded’ as Intended Source of Funding
• State the exact project title on the application form
When applying please ensure all required documents are attached:
• All degree certificates and transcripts (Undergraduate AND Postgraduate MSc-officially translated into English where necessary)
• Detailed CV
Informal inquiries can be made to Dr R Rafati (
Roozbeh.rafati@abdn.ac.uk), with a copy of your curriculum vitae and cover letter. All general enquiries should be directed to the Postgraduate Research School (
pgrsadmissions@abdn.ac.uk)
