Postdoctoral Fellow within fluid mechanics for improved well integrity and abandonment

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a two-year position as Postdoctoral Fellow within fluid mechanics for improved well integrity and abandonment at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering.

The position is vacant from 01 February 2023.

The position is affiliated with the SWIPA Centre for Research-Based Innovation, funded by the Research Council of Norway and participating industry partners, and will be part of the work package connected to upscaling and testing of barrier materials within the centre. 

Portland cement is currently the most widely used barrier material for zonal isolation along producing wells, and for caprock restoration and sealing of wells that are due to be abandoned. For well barriers to be effective, they must completely displace the original fluids in place, and provide full cross-sectional coverage along the required interval of the well. Effective barrier placement is therefore critical both for well construction, remediation and well abandonment operations, and even more so when relatively short and high quality, compact barriers are required. 

The quality of the fluid displacement and barrier placement is often highly sensitive to details of the local geometry, to fluid properties such as density, viscosity and interfacial tension, as well as operational parameters such as use of spacer fluids and injection rates. This research project will study fluid displacement and barrier material placement with a particular focus on remedial and well abandonment operations where plug cementing, annular through-tubing cementing and/or squeeze cementing are relevant scenarios. The project will address conditions for optimal displacement and minimum fluid inter-mixing using mainly experimental approaches and involving a combination of model fluids and actual well barrier materials.

The project will study necessary conditions for effective bulk displacement and wall film removal for selected displacement scenarios and geometries, and potentially also consider the compatibility of different barrier materials, and possible degradation due to mixing and contamination of other fluids. 

This project will collaborate with on-going research activity into bulk displacement and film removal at the University of Stavanger. As stated, the project will be part of the SWIPA  work package on upscaling and testing of new barrier materials (work package 3). The project will support and collaborate with relevant activities performed within the centre and perform research that can help qualify new materials or methods for placing barrier materials in wells. Current activity in this work package includes the development of automatic and in-line viscosity characterization of barrier materials (relevant for fluid displacement and barrier material placement), as well as future full-scale testing of new barrier materials developed in the centre or by centre partners. 

The objective of the position is to strengthen research, and to give researchers/scholars holding a doctoral degree the opportunity for further qualification toward top academic positions.

The qualifying project will be carried out at the University of Stavanger. It is assumed that the appointee will work full time on the project and that she/he will participate in the academic community.

You must submit a description of a research project within the subject area and plan for its completion. The project proposal must show how you will proceed to carry out the research work, what the key issues and hypotheses will be, what theories and methods you will apply, publication channels and a schedule for carrying out the work. It must be clear from the application in what way the project will add your competence. The project proposal will be included in the competence assessment.

The final project description and progress plan are drawn up in consultation with the supervisor (s) during the first three months of the employment period. It is a prerequisite that you complete the project during the employment period.

You must have a ph.d. with a specialisation relevant for the project. The ph.d. thesis must have been submitted for evaluation within the application deadline for the position and approved before accession.

We are looking for applicants with strong academic backgrounds within applied and experimental physics, materials science, petroleum engineering, chemical engineering or similar.

You should have:

• Strong experimental background within fluids and/or materials
• Strong background within material characterization, including advanced viscosity characterization and measurements of material stress-strain behavior
• Experience performing experiments using industrially relevant non-Newtonian fluids, such as cement slurries and polymeric liquids
• Strong publication track record within physics, petroleum engineering or materials science

You must have good command of both oral and written English.

You must document recent and active research activities. Applicants that have submitted the ph.d. thesis within the last 3 years will therefore be prioritized. Candidates that can document significant experience in performing research in collaboration with industry and/or the institute sector will be prioritized. 

In the assessment the following criteria will be emphasised:

• relevance, quality and feasibility of the project
• submitted scientific work and your personal skills for completing the project within the timeframe
• international experience and network
• qualifications within the areas of creativity, innovation and commercialisation of research
• good teamwork, communication skills and ability to participate in research communities across organisational units
• ability to work independently in a structured manner
• motivation, sense of responsibility and accountability, work capacity and enthusiasm for research

• varied duties in a large, exciting and socially important organisation
• an ambitious work community which is developing rapidly. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure
• salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.510, code 1352, NOK 530.000 - 590.000 gross per year. A higher salary may be considered in special cases. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund , which provides favourable insurance- and retirement benefits
• favourable membership terms at a gym and at the university sports club, SiS sports club  at campus
• employment with an Inclusive Workplace organisation which is committed to reducing sick leave, increasing the proportion of employees with reduced working capacity, and increasing the number of professionally active seniors
• Hjem-jobb-hjem , discounted public transport to and from work
• as an employee in Norway, you will have access to an optimal health service, as well as good pensions, generous maternity/paternity leave, and a competitive salary. Nursery places are guaranteed and reasonably priced.
• relocation programme
• language courses : On this page you can see which language courses you may be entitled to (look up “language courses” under employment conditions)

University of Stavanger values independence, involvement and innovation. Diversity is respected and considered a resource in our work and learning environment. Universal design characterises physical and digital learning environments, and we strive to provide reasonable adjustments for employees with disabilities.

You are encouraged to apply regardless of gender, disability or cultural background.

The university aims to recruit more women within the subject area. If several applicants are considered to have equal qualifications, female applicants will be given priority.

More information on the position can be obtained from Hans Joakim Skadsem, e-mail: [email protected] , or head of department Øystein Arild, e-mail: [email protected] .

SWIPA work package manager Erlend Randeberg, e-mail: [email protected] , can be contacted for inquiries related to the SWIPA centre.

Information about the appointment procedure can be obtained from HR-advisor Margot Amelia Treen, tel: 51831419, e-mail: [email protected] .

To apply for this position please follow the link "Apply for this job" . Your application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills must be registered here. In the application letter, you must state your research interests and motivation for the position.

The following documents must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

• project proposal
• CV with a full summary of your education and experience
• documentation of approved ph.d. If you have not completed the ph.d., you may enclose a confirmation from the institution on the expected date of obtaining the doctoral degree. 
• complete list of academic publications with information on where they are published. You may also upload up to 5 publications, including your ph.d. thesis or published monograph based upon the thesis.
• transcripts and certificates, and other documentation that you consider relevant

Applications are evaluated based on the information available in Jobbnorge on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

The documentation must be available in either a Scandinavian language or in English. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 30 MB, they must be compressed before upload. 

Please note that information on applicants may be published even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the official list of applicants - see Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act . If your request is not granted, you will be notified.

UiS only considers applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. If your application is considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter legislation, it will be rejected without further assessment.

Employment as Postdoctoral Fellow is regulated in "Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of post-doctoral research fellow and research fellow, research assistant and resident".

Your qualifications for the position, based on documentation registered in Jobbnorge, will be assessed by an internal expert committee. Based on the committee's statement, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview before any recommendations are made. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. More about the hiring process on our website.

UiS has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.

It is a prerequisite that you have a residence which enables you to be present at/available to the academic community during ordinary working hours.

The position has been announced in both Norwegian and English. In the case of differences of meaning between the texts, the Norwegian text takes precedence.

Morten Berentsen

The University of Stavanger (UiS) has about 12,000 students and 2,200 employees. The university has high ambitions. We strive to have an innovative and international profile, and be a driving force in knowledge development and in the process of societal change. Our common direction is driven by consideration for green and sustainable change and equitable social development, through new ways of managing natural resources and facilitating better cities and local communities. Energy, health and welfare, learning for life are our focus areas.

In constant collaboration and dialogue with our surroundings, regionally, nationally and internationally, we enjoy an open and creative climate for education, research, innovation, dissemination and museum activities. Academic life at the University of Stavanger is organised into six faculties comprising various departments/schools and National Research Centres, as well as the Museum of Archaeology. We are a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities. The university is located in the most attractive region in the country with more than 300,000 inhabitants. The Stavanger region has a dynamic labour market and exciting cultural and leisure activities.

Together with our staff and students we will challenge the well-known and explore the unknown.

The Faculty of Science and Technology offers study programs at bachelor, master and doctoral level. The faculty has established close cooperation on research with NORCE (Norwegian Research Centre AS) and the regional industry. A number of master's and doctoral theses are made in collaboration with the industry. The faculty has established research collaborations with universities in the US and Europe, and has developed several academic environments that are at the forefront internationally.The faculty has about 2,800 students and approximately 500 employees at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Structural Engineering and Materials Science, Department of Mathematics and Physics, Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, Department of Energy Resources and the Department of Safety, Economics and Planning.

Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering carries out research and offers study programs at all levels in Drilling Technology, Natural Gas Technology, Petroleum Engineering and Energy Technology. The department has established close research collaboration with relevant industry - especially in the petroleum and battery sector. The department focuses on internationalization, with the development of English study programs and high mobility among academic staff and students. There are currently 60 employees including research fellows and postdocs.