Postdoctoral Fellow, EOR & Interface Physics in Shale
Overview
This role leads HPHT laboratory investigations into fluid-fluid and fluid-rock interface optimization in unconventional shale reservoirs. The researcher owns experimental design and execution for CO2 and chemical EOR, from microscale huff-and-puff to advanced surfactant and nanoparticle systems. Joining the Bureau of Economic Geology at UT Austin, the fellow collaborates with a tightly integrated team of experimentalists and modelers, publishing high-impact science and building expertise in subsurface fluid transport. This one-year position offers direct engagement with industry and federal stakeholders, backed by robust project funding.
What You'll Do6
- 1Design and conduct HPHT injection and microscale huff-and-puff experiments to evaluate CO2, gas, and chemical EOR performance.
- 2Quantify rock wettability, interfacial tension (IFT), and the aqueous stability of complex surfactant-nanoparticle suspensions.
- 3Formulate and test multi-component injectants, including CO2-co-solvent blends and surfactant co-injections.
- 4Develop and evaluate foam systems for mobility and conformance control in porous media.
- 5Document experimental workflows and author peer-reviewed publications.
- 6Deliver technical presentations to stakeholders and collaborate with numerical modeling teams to upscale findings.
Requirements7
- 1PhD in Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Geological Engineering, Material Science, or a related field within 3 years of hire.
- 2Extensive hands-on experience in HPHT laboratory environments with CO2 and shale fluids.
- 3Proven expertise in evaluating fluid-fluid and fluid-rock properties such as wettability and IFT.
- 4Track record of publication in top-tier journals with excellent technical writing skills.
- 5Preferred: proficiency with PVT modeling software such as WinProp or PVTi.
- 6Preferred: experience with nanoparticles, colloidal suspensions, and aqueous stability.
- 7Preferred: experience with foam generation and rheology in porous media.
Salary Insight
Salary not disclosed in listing
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