PhD Fellowship in Petroleum Technology

PhD Fellowship in Petroleum Technology Job description

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a PhD Fellowship in Petroleum Technology with the topic “Evaluating decision models – Fit-for- purpose models in a multi-objective/criteria decision-making/optimization setup” at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Energy Resources.

The position is vacant from 1 July 2023.

This is a trainee position that will give promising researchers an opportunity for academic development through a PhD education leading to a doctoral degree.

The hired candidate will be admitted to the PhD program in Science and Technology. The education includes relevant courses amounting to about six months of study, a dissertation based on independent research, participation in national and international research environments, relevant academic communication, a trial lecture and public defence. Read more about the PhD education at UiS on our website.

The appointment is for three years with research duties exclusively.

The position is funded with funds from a NORCE-led KPS-K project called REMEDY.

Research topic

The PhD canidate will be associated with the research project "REMEDY: Reduced Emissions and Improved Energy Efficiency on the NCS (Norwegian Continental Shelf)".

Remedy is a competence building project for business supported by the Research Council of Norway and industry partners. The main objective of REMEDY is to deliver a workflow to reduce CO2 emissions and improve energy efficiency at NCS while maximizing NPV (net present value). Furthermore, this workflow must be delivered ready for implementation in the operator's tools. Ensemble- based reservoir management systems are now the standard tool for developing and managing oil reservoirs. Therefore, it is important to mature the workflows and their algorithms for applications that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. REMEDY expands the traditional ensemble workflow to an ensemble reservoir and emissions management workflow for managing and reducing CO2 emissions on the Norwegian continental shelf.

In the project, the PhD student will work together with researchers from UiS and NORCE and contribute to the overall workflow. The PhD project will concentrate on the evaluation of decision models. Ensemble-based closed-loop reservoir management (CLRM) is the new standard for developing and managing petroleum reservoirs. The focus in this project is on the optimization loop in the CLRM approach which is leveraging Ensemble Optimization (EnOpt), a physics-based approach which uses an approximated gradient (greedy optimization) to calculate the sensitivities of the objective function (single/multi-criteria) to different decisions variables to obtain the optimal solution/strategy. At the heart of this approach are the production profiles/field profiles used in calculating the economical values of different strategies.

The main goal in this project is to develop and implement a methodology to generate unbiased probabilistic production forecasts to ensure quality input to economical evaluations, business plans and decisions. This requires a scalable approach to capture different levels of production forecast sophistication depending on the decision to be made and the point one is at in the process. For example, the simple model required for evaluating an infill well would differ significantly from a new field development. Multi-million cell models of the subsurface and recovery dynamics or full surface-facility process-models violate this criterion. The objective of this research is to develop a workflow, support by a software tool, and a recommended practice to deliver decision-driven fit-for-purpose forecasts.

Such a workflow must allow for choosing:

The level of simplicity or complexity of the production forecast models from material balance, decline curves, full 3D geo-models, data driven (ML/AI models) or hybrid models (data and physics)

The optimization methodology: gradient based, non-gradient based, dynamical programing or reinforcement learning

Project proposal

As an applicant, you must prepare a preliminary project proposal for a doctoral project within the subject area, which explains the problem, relevance, theoretical and methodological approach. Your preliminary project proposal will be included in the application assessment.

During the first three months of the employment period, the project proposal and progress plan will be further developed in cooperation with your supervisors and completed for the final plan for the PhD-project. A project proposal template can be found here.

The proposal must be a maximum of one page.

Qualification requirements

We are looking for applicants with a strong academic background who have completed a five-year master degree (3+2) within a topic related to the energy transition including geoscience or petroleum engineering, statistics, machine learning and which includes skills in modelling and programming, preferably acquired recently; or possess corresponding qualifications that could provide a basis for successfully completing a doctorate.

To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the University of Stavanger both the grade for your master's thesis and the weighted average grade of your master's degree must individually be equivalent to or better than a B grade.

Applicants with an education from an institution with a different grade scale than A-F, and/or with other types of credits than sp/ECTS, must attach a confirmed conversion scale that shows how the grades can be compared with the Norwegian A-F scale and a Diploma Supplement or similar that explains the scope of the subjects that are included in the education. You can use these conversion scales to calculate your points for admission.

Emphasis is also placed on your:

motivation and potential for research within the field

professional and personal skills for completing the doctoral degree within the timeframe

ability to work independently and in a team, be innovative and creative

ability to work structured and handle a heavy workload

having a good command of both oral and written English

Requirements for competence in English

A good proficiency in English is required for anyone attending the PhD program. International applicants must document this by taking one of the following tests with the following results:

TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test (IBT). Minimum result: 90

IELTS – International English Language Testing Service. Minimum result: 6.5

Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) from the University of Cambridge

PTE Academic – Pearson Test of English Academic. Minimum result: 62

The following applicants are exempt from the above requirements:

Applicants with one year of completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA

Applicants with an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma

Applicants with a completed bachelor's and / or master's degrees taught in English in a EU/EEA country

We offer

a PhD education in a large, exciting and societally 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 17.515, code 1017, NOK 501 200 gross per year with salary development according to seniority in the position. 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 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)

Diversity

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.

Contact information

More information on the position (and project description) can be obtained from Head of Department Alejandro Escalona Varela, tel: +47 51832259, e-mail: [email protected] or Professor Reidar B Bratvold, tel: +47 97651969, e-mail: [email protected]

Information about the appointment procedure can be obtained from Senior HR- advisor Margot A Treen, tel: +47 51831419, e-mail: [email protected]

Application

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 your 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, a project proposal template can be found here.

CV with a full summary of your education and experience

references, certificates/diplomas and other documentation that you consider relevant

Diploma Supplement or similar and a confirmed conversion scale if this is required

documentation on competence in English if this is required

publications or other relevant research work

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

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.

General information

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 PhD 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.

The appointee will be based at the University of Stavanger, with the exception of a stay abroad at a relevant centre of research.

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 English text takes precedence.

UiS - challenge the well-known and explore the unknown

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.

The Department of Energy Resources boasts an international environment for staff and students. The research is associated with societal challenges and opportunities stemming from environmentally-friendly energy and climate. This includes production and storage of energy resources and disposal of waste products in the subsurface, geosciences, technology for improved oil recovery (IOR), and decision & data analytical methods and applications. The department offers study programs relevant for exploration, storage and production of natural resources and modeling for improving decision-making and value creation.

We have broad collaboration with other universities, research institutes and industry. The department has an international focus with a large degree of English as teaching language and mobility of students and staff. The Department of Energy Resources has ca. 45 members of staff, including PhD students and post-doctoral fellows.

Deadline

23rd March 2023

Employer

University of Stavanger

Municipality

Stavanger

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Duration

Permanent

Place of service

Ullandhaug