|
Research Fellow in Chemistry
within the project at Department of Chemistry
The PhD project is funded under the “Multiphase
Measurement Oil and Gas” programme in a collaboration between the University
of Bergen (UiB), The Michelsen Centre for Measurement Science and Technology
(a centre for research-based innovation hosted by Christian Michelsen
Research (CMR)), and Roxar Flow Measurement AS. General
background Multiphase meters provide an accurate and continuous
on-line monitoring of the flow rates of oil, water and gas in the oil well
stream. By using Multiphase meters the following elements may individually or
in combinations contribute to improve the overall petroleum field recovery
and economics: • Improved
reservoir management •
Optimized petroleum production •
Increased oil recovery • More
effective well testing •
Production allocation • Help optimizing
chemical injection to prevent hydrate formation and corrosion • Lower
investments and operational costs Multiphase metering is today a mature technology
after more than 20 years of development and close to 1000 meters in operation
worldwide. Almost every operator in the petroleum market uses multiphase
meters today. Nevertheless, there is a large potential for accuracy
improvement by improving the understanding the basic chemical and physical
principles and mechanisms that determine the fluid properties and behaviour.
Such properties are a crucial influence on the inputs to any multiphase
meter. PhD work This project will focus on collecting chemical,
electrical and physical fluid data on representative welistream systems, and
analysing the correlation between them in order to establish fluid property
models that can result in more reliable and accurate interpretation of the
inputs to the multiphase meters. The focus will be on frequency dependent
models for calculation of complex permittivity for fluid mixtures that are
present during the production of hydrocarbons by the petroleum industry. The
models will be used to increase the accuracy and reliability of the
measurements under a wide range of flow conditions. Of special interest is the investigation of the
properties of the multiphase system under special conditions such as emulsion
flow and flow with various process enhancing additives. In particular, the
question of how the permittivity measurement is influences under such flow
conditions needs to be addressed. Very little work has been done in this
area, and there is a need for new physical and chemical data and knowledge in
order to provide an improved basis for reliable multiphase metering of all
these types of fluid systems. Therefore, the project will include
permittivity measurements on emulsions, as well as mapping the effect of
various additives on the permittivity of multiphase flow. As an end result,
algorithms for predicting the effect of petroleum composition including
additives on the electromagnetic properties of the fluids will be developed
and validated by testing against new and existing data. Through the PhD work
the candidate will obtain core competence within a very dynamic and rapidly
developing research field, of significant economical and industrial
importance for Requirements
for the candidate The candidates should have a background in physical
chemistry, petroleum technology, petroleum chemistry or physics. Interest in
interdisciplinary research is required, including the ability to co-ordinate
information and knowledge from basic research within both chemistry and
physics. Experience in the measurement of electrical properties of complex
fluids and the use of multivariate data analysis for modelling complex systems
will be an advantage. Applicants must hold a master’s degree in chemistry,
physics or technology or an equivalent degree. Place of
work The primary place of work will be at the Department
of Chemistry, in close cooperation with the Department of Physics and
Technology and CMR. The Department of Chemistry is one of 8 Departments of
the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the For further information about this position contact
Professor PhD supervision At
the Department of Physics and
Technology: At CMR: |