The Department of Geophysics and the Department of Energy Resources Engineering seeks a creative individual for a fully-funded, 2-year postdoctoral position to model fluid transport through interconnected fracture networks within the overburden of hydrocarbon reservoirs under sub-sea conditions.

Motivation:
Observations suggest that hydrocarbons emerging from natural, sub-sea seeps migrate to the surface as a distinct, non-dispersed column of fluid. Seepage occurs in spatially distinct areas, indicative of the existence of preferential pathways underneath, but is variable in both time and space. Typically, the seeping fluids share a striking similarity to the hydrocarbons contained within reservoirs directly below the seeps, suggesting a common origin and arduous pathways to the surface. Our goal is to infer reservoir properties from seabed observations of fluid seepage through an improved understanding of the processes that govern hydrocarbon transport in interconnected networks under sub-sea conditions. Making progress on this problem is relevant not only for hydrocarbon production, but also for carbon sequestration.

Tasks:
The post-doctoral scholar will work on developing and analyzing models that quantify fluid migration along an interconnected network of preferential pathways in the overburden of hydrocarbon reservoirs under sub-sea conditions. The position requires experience in modeling multiphase flow, ideally through both numerical and analytical approaches. The primary advisors for this project are Dr. Jenny Suckale (Stanford, Department of Geophysics) and Dr. Hamdi Tchelepi (Stanford, Department of Energy Resources Engineering). The project will be performed in close collaboration with Leslie Baksmaty at Shell.