One of the significant challenges facing the oil and gas industry is the reduction of oil production due to precipitation of scales in the downhole tubing. Scale formation can be rapid and expensive to remedy. One example in the North Sea is a 30,000 bpd production well where the production rate declined to zero over a 24 hour period due to scale formation, so, the cost to that company due to scale precipitation by considering $50 per barrel, is estimated £1.2m per day that the well is shut in. BP estimates that it spends £2 million per year on scale control in the North Sea; with scale removal and scale inhibition treatments estimated as being responsible for 20% of its well losses. The most recent figures provided by the OGA estimate that 8% of the approx. 2,000 wells in the North Sea have scale issues – some 180 wells. There are a variety of conventional methods to prevent and remove scales such as chemical, mechanical or hydraulic. These techniques generally need a wide range of surface equipment, shut in production, can cause corrosion and degradation of the pipe, may be expensive to use and may have potential environmental harm. In this project, the effect of ultrasound as an environmentally friendly, low energy consumption and low operating cost technology for removal of scale from downhole production tubing is investigated. The technology will be validated through a series of experiments under both laboratory and simulated conditions to determine the feasibility and optimum set up for removal of scale in downhole tubing.
Selection will be made on the basis of academic merit. The successful candidate should have, or expect to obtain, a UK Honours Degree at 2.1 or above in Petroleum, Chemical or Electrical Engineering.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Formal applications can be completed online: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/pgap/login.php
• 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, Personal Statement/Motivation Letter and Intended source of funding
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