Program Overview

PhD Centre for Enhanced Oil Recovery and CO2 Solutions

The Centre for Enhanced Oil Recovery and CO2 Solutions investigates various hydrocarbon recovery mechanisms to improve the current understanding of the pertinent reservoir processes and to produce information required for efficient planning and management of field production.

Key Information

• Funding: Self-funded
• School: Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society
• Location: Edinburgh
• Award: PhD
• Delivery type: Full-time, Part-time
• Start date: September

Research Areas

The Centre uses unique laboratory techniques to investigate, experimentally, reservoir fluid flow at various scales. High pressure flow visualisation at the pore level is performed in three high pressure micromodel rigs, resulting in more understanding of the reservoir processes as well as quantitative information. Four core test facilities operating at simulated reservoir conditions, including X-ray local saturation measurement capabilities, are used to produce field specific and generic data. Mechanistic and numerical modelling of flow through porous media, based on in-house experimental observation and measurements, are conducted to generalise research results.

Research Projects

The research areas include:

• Flow of gas-condensate near the wellbore
• Well deliverability improvement
• Trapping of hydrocarbon by water and its subsequent remobilisation by depressurisation
• Water alternating gas (WAG) injection
• Miscible WAG and simultaneous injection of water and gas (SWAG)
• Recovery from naturally fractured reservoirs

Entry Requirements

Candidate criteria are discussed with the institute.

Funding Information

The funding status and tuition fees are as follows:

• Scotland: Ł5,151 (full-time), Ł2,575.50 (part-time)
• England / Wales / N Ireland: Ł5,151 (full-time), Ł2,575.50 (part-time)
• International: Ł26,604 (full-time), Ł13,302 (part-time)

Additional Information

Industrial Sponsorship

Many past students have gained funding from industry sources, including:

• Nigerian Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF)
• Bolahak, Kazakhstan
• Commonwealth Scholarships
• Chevening scholarships
• BP
• Chevron
• Shell
• ExxonMobil There are also industrial sponsorships available every year to UK and EU students. Eligible applicants are automatically considered for these sponsorships, which are awarded after an interview event during the summer before the course starts.

Scholarships

The university offers competitive funded scholarships for research degrees, including full or partial support from UK research councils, research pools, charities, or industry.