Position Description

Area:  Reservoir Simulation in Coalbed Methane (CBM) Reservoirs
Duration:  One year (with the possibility of extension)
Start Date:  Immediate
Salary:  50,000 $CAD plus UCalgary Postdoctoral Plan C Health Benefits
 
The Department of Geoscience in the Faculty of Science at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in Reservoir Simulations in CBM.

Job Description:
The primary objective of Tight Oil Consortium (TOC) at the Department of Geoscience at the Faculty of Science at the University of Calgary is to solve multidisciplinary problems facing industry in the arena of low-permeability (‘tight’) oil reservoirs (www.tightoilconsortium.com). To accomplish this goal, we are composed of researchers from the geoscience and petroleum engineering disciplines. 

Currently, we are looking for a postdoctoral fellow (PDF) with extensive reservoir simulation and optimization experience and strong analytical background in CBM for a one-year term, with the possibility of an extension for a second year.  This position is part of an ongoing Mitacs Accelerate program, which allows collaborating directly with the industry partner. As required by Mitacs, the PDF is expected to spend 50% of their time at the industry partner organization. The successful candidate will be part of a multidisciplinary team of engineers and geoscientists at the UofC, helping the industry partner to design an actual CO2 storage pilot in Canada. 

Reporting to the Principal Investigator (PI), the successful candidate must be able to independently or with minimum direction, plan, organize, and perform reservoir simulation, history matching and optimization for CO2 injection in coalbed reservoirs. The successful candidate will take lead on generating innovative ideas for advancing this line of research at TOC at the Department of Geoscience at the University of Calgary. 

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the industry partner, the reservoir engineering team, and the laboratory staff at the UofC to help design an actual CO2 injection and storage pilot in a CBM reservoir in Alberta
• Help in selecting commercial CBM areas (developed with single- and/or multi-lateral wells) for evaluating CO2 injection/storage potential
• Conduct history-matching of the well production data from the selected wells 
• Utilize the calibrated models to simulate the performance of a novel staged along-well CO2 injection/storage approach consistent with the needs of the industry partner
  • Optimal design for co-optimization of  CO2 storage and the amount of swept fluids to support the industry partner’s proposed process (field pilot area)
  • Optimal design of operating conditions for CO2 injection into single- and/or multi-lateral horizontal wells in selected (non-pilot) areas
• Develop and apply new theoretical models for modeling/simulation and interpretation of the results 
• Document the results of experiments into technical reports and scientific manuscripts publishable in high-quality international journals/conferences
• Assist in consulting with sponsors to plan future tests and clarify the results/findings

Qualifications:

• A recent PhD degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Geoscience, Petroleum Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering, etc.) is required. PhD degrees must have been granted no more than five years prior to the project’s start date.
• A deep understanding of the reservoir engineering concepts for CBM, such as ECBR, gasification, adsorption, diffusion, stress-dependent properties, and swelling in CBM, is required
• 3-5 years of previous work experience with theoretical modeling/simulation and interpretation of data from CBM reservoirs is required
• 3-5 years of prior experience with commercial numerical simulators and reservoir optimizers such as tNavigator, Eclipse, and CMG is required
• Experienced with compiling scientific manuscripts/presentations for international journals and conferences (a publication list must be provided)
• Proven organizational skills, multitasking, and close attention to details is required
• Ability to think critically and creatively under pressure while exercising good judgment and discretion is required
• Demonstrated ability to be resourceful, creative, innovative, and flexible is required 

Asset Qualifications:

• Previous experience with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) methods 
• Previous experience with geomechanical concepts and the modeling workflow for CBM
• Previous experience with laboratory-based petrophysical analyses in CBM
• Previous experience with programming languages such as Python, C++, and Matlab
• Knowledge of university policies and procedures

*Please review the Postdoc Eligibility Guidelines for more information prior to applying for this position.

Application Details:
Please email your application as a single .pdf document on or before April 30, 2023 at 11:59 PM MDT via email to [email protected].

All applications must include:
•    A cover letter including date of availability, suitability, and motivation for the role, including a brief summary of past, current, and future research interests and accomplishments
•    A current curriculum vitae (CV);
•    Official or unofficial copy of diploma(s)/university certificate(s);
•    A copy of two recent, peer-reviewed journal/chapter publications or conference presentations and,
•    The name and contact information, including email addresses for at least two (2) referees who have knowledge of your research and academic experience. 
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted further. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada, although others are encouraged to apply.
The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement. To find out more about the postdoctoral scholar program at the University of Calgary, visit our Postdocs website.  

Additional Information

To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Postdoc Careers website. For more information visit Careers in the Faculty of Science.

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

To succeed as one of Canada’s top universities, where new ideas are created, tested and applied through first-class teaching and research, the University of Calgary needs more of the best minds in our classrooms and labs. We’re increasing our scholarly capacity by investing in people who want to change the world, bringing the best and brightest to Calgary to form a global intellectual hub and achieve advances that matter to everyone. For more information visit research.ucalgary.ca/postdocs.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).