Prof Matthew Jackson
Applications accepted all year round
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
Recent studies have demonstrated that modifying the composition of the brine injected during waterflooding of hydrocarbon reservoirs can yield improved recovery. However, results published to date are often inconsistent and contradictory: some laboratory experiments have shown improved recovery by simple dilution of reservoir brine, switching to seawater, or dilution of seawater; conversely, other studies have found no improvement. Conversely, some studies have found improved recovery by changing the concentration of specific ions. In all cases, experiments are not always repeatable across different rock types, crude oils, experimental conditions and research groups.
Research at Imperial College has demonstrated a quantitative relationship between improved recovery, brine composition, and the zeta potential measured at the mineral-brine and oil-brine interfaces. The zeta potential is an interfacial property that yields a measure of the electrical potential at the interface and controls the electrostatic interactions between the interface and polar species in aqueous and non-aqueous solution.
Imperial College has developed a unique experimental apparatus to measure zeta potential in intact core samples at reservoir conditions. Preliminary results show that changing the brine composition to engineer a controlled change in zeta potential consistently yields improved recovery. This raises the prospect of a predictive model for the optimum brine composition that requires data from only a few, relatively rapid experiments.
The aim of this project is to identify the optimum injection brine composition to improve recovery for a given reservoir system.
Applications are invited from (geo)chemists, physicists and engineers with experience of designing, conducting and interpreting laboratory experiments and genuine interest in the research area. The successful applicant will join an active and supportive research group working on similar problems.
The project is fully funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) via a Collaborative Award for Science and Engineering (CASE) with industrial partner BP. The successful applicant will undertake a 3 month internship with BP as part of the project.
How to apply Application forms and instructions can be obtained from our website (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/courses/phdopportunities/phdapplicationprocedure). Further information about the project can be obtained from Prof. Matthew Jackson ([Email Address Removed] Tel: ++44 (0) 207 594 6538). The project will be advertised until filled but we anticipate holding interviews in mid-March.
Funding Notes
The project is fully funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) via a Collaborative Award for Science and Engineering (CASE) with industrial partner BP. The successful applicant will undertake a 3 month internship with BP as part of the project. Please note that EPSRC funding is only available to students who qualify for ‘home’ fees status. Please do not apply if you do not qualify for the funding.
Continue with Facebook
