Post-doctoral researcher in Petroleum Geology; geological controls onprospectivity of shallow reservoirs

General

The Department of Arctic Geology of the University Centre in Svalbard has a vacancy for a Post-doctoral researcher position for two years focusing on shallow reservoir-cap rock systems on the northern Barents Shelf. The Department for Arctic Geology presently consists of 4 professors, 4 associate professors, 6 Ph.D. students, 10 adjunct professors, 1 researcher and 1 post-doctoral researchers. Additional information about the Arctic Geology Department can be found at http://www.unis.no/research/arctic-geology/.

The Post-doctoral researcher position is financed by the Research Centre for Arctic Petroleum Exploration (ARCEx). ARCEx primarily aims to enhance knowledge of petroleum resources in northern and Arctic areas and minimize geological risk associated with exploration, with the complementary aim of providing essential knowledge and methodology for eco-safe exploration in the high north. Eco-safe refers to the use of best available technology and practices in order to minimize impacts and risks to the Arctic environment. More information about ARCEx can be found at http://www.arcex.no

We seek a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual with strong academic ambitions and a correspondingly strong track record that has the ability to work successfully within a large project team such as ARCEx, and specifically with an emerging task force focussing on multidisciplinary characterization of shallow reservoirs. The post-doctoral researcher will develop state-of-the-art skills in characterizing critical parameters related to exploring and appraising shallow siliciclastic reservoirs on the uplifted Barents Shelf.

She/he will work in a closely-knit collaborative team spanning all work packages within ARCEx, including geology, eco-safe exploration methods and environmental risk assessment. As such, some travel to other ARCEx-affiliated research partners (in particular University of Tromsø, Oslo and Stavanger) as well as ARCEx industry partners will be required. The post-doctoral researcher will mostly work with field, well and seismic data in the UNIS seismic interpretation lab, which offers modern work stations and relevant software (Petrel, Techlog, ECLIPSE, T7, RokDoc, PhotoScan etc.).

Description of the vacant position

The work will focus on understanding the geological controlling factors that govern the exploration and production potential of shallow (burial depths of only some few hundreds of metres) Jurassic-Triassic siliciclastic reservoirs currently targeted by E&P companies in the northern part of the Barents Sea. These units have experienced significant burial and subsequent unloading, affecting all aspects of the petroleum system. The post-doctoral researcher is expected to contribute in understanding how these factors affect both the prospectivity and production potential of relevant discoveries.

Some of the envisioned work tasks may include (but not limited to):

• Quantitatively characterize the trap types in the prospective area of interest, focussing on factors including volume, hydrocarbon fill, risk factors, retention potential etc.
• Quantify the spatial extent of sandstone injectites encountered in Upper Jurassic cap rocks in Svalbard and assist in an ongoing integrative study to study their genesis and impact on top seal integrity.
• Characterize fault zones within the reservoir units, utilising field analogues and exploration and appraisal boreholes where available
• Construct geology-driven numerical models to test sensitivity of various traps to for instance preferential leakage of hydrocarbon phase or the effects of multiple charge episodes.
• Contribute to ongoing ARCEx studies on regional cap rock properties and pressure development in the northern Barents Shelf.
• Digitally characterize relevant outcrop geometries and conduct, in conjunction with other ARCEx PhD candidates, synthetic seismic and CSEM modelling of these for a range of fluid-fill scenarios

The Post-doctoral researcher is expected to disseminate its findings to the scientific community through presentations at relevant conferences and the publication of several peer-reviewed journal articles. Furthermore, outreach to the general public as well as relevant ARCEx stakeholders is desired.

Qualifications

The successful candidate must, at the time of commencing the position, hold a Ph.D degree or equivalent in an appropriate field (structural geology, petroleum geology, petrophysics, geomechanics etc.).

The evaluation committee will especially consider the following:

• Experience with modern industry-standard data integration and analysis platforms (e.g., Petrel, T7, RokDok, Agisoft) and data types (e.g., borehole data, 2D/3D seismic)
• Strong publication track record
• Personal suitability and demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Experience from Svalbard or other remote field areas, including strenuous hiking partly in steep terrain
• Excellent English written and oral communication skills are required

The candidate should hold a full driving license (for snowscooter-based field work) and be prepared to contribute to the ongoing activities within the Arctic Geology Department at UNIS and ARCEx.

Employment conditions

The employment contract is a fixed term for a period of two years. The successful candidate must live in Longyearbyen, but will have the opportunity for shorter research stays where relevant. She/he is expected to contribute actively to ongoing scientific activities in ARCEx and in the Arctic Geology department. It is also expected that the post-doctoral researcher takes an active part in the advancement of his/her field of research, and she/he must also be willing to contribute to the development of UNIS in a more general sense.

Salary

All salaries are set in accordance with the Norwegian government's University salary scale. Post-doctoral researches starts at salary step 59, which currently is a gross salary of NOK 514 800.-. As a resident in Svalbard an annual allowance of NOK 34 560 (Svalbardtillegg) will be added to the salary. A Social Security contribution of 2 per cent, to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, will be deducted from the salary. Income tax on Svalbard is 8 per cent, plus 8.2 per cent toward National Insurance coverage.

Selection and appointment

An expert Committee appointed by the Managing Director of UNIS will evaluate the qualifications of the applicants. The Committee will review the applications in detail and summarize their assessments in a written report. This report and the derived recommendations form the basis for Skype interviews with selected candidates, which will be summarized by the expert committee. The interviews shall among other things aim to clarify the applicant’s personal suitability for the position. The Committee report to the Appointment Committee and Managing Director of UNIS, which makes the final appointment. As UNIS would like to increase the percentage of females in academic positions, women are especially invited to apply.

Application and further information

Inquiries about this position can be directed to:

• Associate Professor in Structural Geology and Basin Analysis Kim Senger, e-mail: kim.senger@unis.no, phone +47 95 29 15 92

As a minimum, please include the following documents in the online application form:

• A statement describing your research interest, how these relate to the announced position and your research motivation (mandatory -max 1 page)
• CV summarizing education, positions and academic work including a list of publications
• Publications and academic works (including a copy of the PhD thesis or equivalent) that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Diploma and transcript from your PhD degree or equivalent
• Diploma and transcript from your Master’s degree or equivalent
• Names and contact details of two to three references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

All documents should be provided in English or a Scandinavian language and uploaded using the online application form.

Deadline for application is 27/09/2019.

Please apply online by using our application form found at www.jobbnorge.no

You can request to have your application kept from public access cf. the open files act § 25. The request must be explained. UNIS will determine if the application will be kept from public access or not, based on the explanation and the regulations from the open files act. If the application will not be accepted, the candidate will be contacted.

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