Postdoc Position in Basin-Scale Geomechanical Screening of CO2 Storage Hubs

Are you interested in enabling giga-tonne CO2 storage? Would you enjoy working at the interface between geoscience, engineering, and numerical modelling? Then this project may be just right for you!

Job description

Scaling up CO2 storage from the current level to the gigatonne-scale that meets ambitious storage targets in the EU, UK, and North America requires a cluster approach, whereby multiple CO2 emitters use shared transportation and storage infrastructure. CO2 storage clusters have emerged as an attractive option because storage projects are centralized around hubs to maximize injection into highly prospective regional aquifers, e.g., identified in storage atlases as having sufficient theoretical capacity for large-scale deployment of CO2 storage. This approach is based on the economy of scale, where a shared transport infrastructure serves major industrial clusters that emit large quantities of CO2.

While being economically attractive, the cluster approach raises important questions about identifying and assessing technical or commercial risks. In fact, when several CO2-storage projects are collocated in one hydrological unit, operations in one project can affect operations and risks at neighbouring projects, and even in the far-field beyond a specific storage project. While the migration of a CO2 plume is usually constrained to a specific storage project, pore pressure builds up cumulatively across the storage region because individual storage projects interact hydraulically with each other. Such pressure interference also operates at much faster time scales. An unexpectedly high pore pressure buildup in (parts of) a storage region can affect storage risks. For example, the increase in reservoir pressure can cause faults to slip, which induces seismicity and opens potential leakage paths through which CO2 can escape later.

If those risks are not identified, the only option to mitigate them during storage operations is to either reduce injection rates or to develop additional storage projects, both of which would be prohibitively expensive and lead to liability challenges between the storage operator and CO2 emitter that undermine trust in the development of future storage clusters and likely a failure to meet CO2 storage targets. An early risk assessment is therefore imperative so that suitable storage clusters can be identified reliably and problematic project areas within a storage region can be avoided. Considering that developing a single storage project takes between 8 and 10 years from initial assessment to first injection, technical innovations are urgently needed to identify suitable, low-risk locations for future storage clusters at the pace required to meet the CO2 storage targets for 2030 and 2040.

The Clean Energy Technology Partnership has recently funded the project “Multiscale Pressure-Stress Impacts on fault integrity for multi-site regional CO2 storage hubs (MUPSI)” to address the challenge of identifying geomechanical risks in CO2 storage clusters. MUPSI is an international consortium involving partners from industry and academia.

As part of the MUPSI project, we are recruiting a 3-year postdoctoral researcher to develop efficient screening methods that identify the first-order geomechanical risks during basin-scale CO2 storage using more advanced constitutive models that represent fault physics and risk of fault slippage during CO2 injection and pressure build-up. This work will be based on a newly developed vertically integrated modelling framework that analytically reconstructs the CO2 plume shape and pressure distribution while considering the presence of faults and CO2 migration through the high-permeable fault damage zone. Approximating the stress-dependency of the fault damage zone will be improved by developing new constitutive models. These constitutive models will be derived by utilising experimental data provided by a project partner in advanced numerical simulations that investigate fault displacements across a range of fault geometries, stress-permeability relations, petrophysical properties, and boundary/initial conditions. The updated vertically integrated modelling framework for basin-scales.

Requirements

As a successful applicant, you hold a PhD degree in applied geology or reservoir engineering or a related field and can demonstrate your strong background in reservoir geomechanics. A sound quantitative approach including programming experience (e.g., Python, Matlab) and experience in applying numerical simulators are also essential for this position. Knowledge in CO2 storage and multiphase flow modelling are also desirable.

Due to the highly interdisciplinary, international, and collaborative nature of the research consortium, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the desire to work in a very diverse and interdisciplinary environment, are an essential requirement.

Are you enthusiastic about CO2 storage? Do you have a strong background in geology, reservoir engineering, or geomechanics and feel that you are a good match for the position but cannot yet tick all the boxes? Then please still get in touch with us as we would like to hear more about your vision for this project and are keen to learn how your skills could be adapted to contribute to the planned research.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.