Postdoc: CO2 Transport in Nanoporous Rocks

University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin seeks a Postdoctoral Fellow to quantify and simulate CO2 mobility in nanoporous shale rocks. The role combines lab-scale measurements of gas diffusion and permeability with advanced reservoir modeling to explore stress-driven transport phenomena.

Located at Pickle Research Campus, the position emphasizes rigorous experimentation, numerical modeling, and collaboration with industry and federal stakeholders to advance energy security and sustainability.

Qualifications

• PhD in Petrophysics, Petroleum Engineering, Geomechanics, Chemical Engineering, Geosciences, or a closely related geosystems discipline.
• Proven experimental expertise in high-pressure core experiments, petrophysical measurements (effective permeability, porosity), or fluid transport phenomena.
• Deep fundamental understanding of fluid transport mechanisms in tight/unconventional formations (diffusion, adsorption, Darcy vs. non-Darcy flow).
• Strong capability in data analysis, scripting, or laboratory automation (Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW).
• PhD must have been obtained within 3 years from date of hire.

Responsibilities

• Core Transport Experiments: Operate and modify advanced gas expansion/liquid transient flow systems to measure CO2 (gas and supercritical phase) mobility, effective permeability, molecular diffusion, and adsorption.
• Geomechanical & Stress Evaluation: Quantify rock-fluid interactions and transport degradation under dynamic net confining stress environments to evaluate reservoir stress-sensitivity.
• Compositional Reservoir Simulation: Upscale laboratory-derived petrophysical, diffusion, relative permeability, and stress-dependent parameters into compositional reservoir models to perform robust sensitivity and production forecast studies.
• Strategic Integration: Work closely with the lab formulation team to translate fluid-interface mechanics into numerical transport constraints, preparing technical frameworks for upcoming field-scale pilot deployments.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

Data analysis

Education

PhD in Petrophysics or related field

Tools

CMG GEM

ECLIPSE

Job description

The University of Texas at Austin seeks a Postdoctoral Fellow to quantify and simulate CO2 mobility in nanoporous shale rocks. The role combines lab-scale measurements of gas diffusion and permeability with advanced reservoir modeling to explore stress-driven transport phenomena.

Located at Pickle Research Campus, the position emphasizes rigorous experimentation, numerical modeling, and collaboration with industry and federal stakeholders to advance energy security and sustainability.