The Department of Geoscience and Petroleum has a vacancy for a

Postdoc position in Well Plugging and Abandonment - IV-83/24

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You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here (https://www.ntnu.edu/positions/job-application-process).

About the job

The postdoctoral fellowship position is a temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.

We have a vacancy for a Postdoc candidate at the Dept. of Geoscience and Petroleum (IGP) in Well Plugging and Abandonment (P&A) Technology and within the framework of the ongoing industry sponsored research program SFI - Center for Subsurface Well Integrity, Plugging and Abandonment (SWIPA) https://www.sintef.no/en/latest-news/2020/new-research-and-innovation-center-to-provide-climate-friendly-value-creation-on-the-norwegian-continental-shelf/ (https://www.sintef.no/en/latest-news/2020/new-research-and-innovation-center-to-provide-climate-friendly-value-creation-on-the-norwegian-continental-shelf/)

Cement is the traditional material used in the well construction phase and in the well plugging and abandonment phase to seal off any leak paths between the reservoir and surroundings. Improved sealing performance using cement includes, among other things, the use of additives to make the cement more flexible and reduce crimping when the cement sets. In some types of clay formations, the bore hole diameter will shrink and make a tight seal against the casing in the well bore. Bismuth can be an alternative material for improved sealing of wellbores. The metallic material, which has a typical melting point between 150 - 300 0C depending on material composition, is typically expanding 0,5 - 3% when it sets. For some applications, this material can be applied to avoid or reduce leaks and thus improve the integrity of the well.

The postdoc research work will have focus on simulations and laboratory tests of bismuth alloys used in well plugging.

Your immediate leader is Head of Department.

Duties of the position

For the current position, the scope of work / objectives are as follows:

• Determine properties of Bismuth alloy
  • Strength vs. temperature
  • Creep vs. temperature, stress and time
  • Degradation
• Laboratory tests: Expansion performance and sealing using Bismuth alloy in casing and casing annulus. Effect of reinforcement of Bismuth alloy plugs
• Modelling of interaction between /Bismuth alloy/ casing /cement/formation, and how the interaction is affecting sealing along the bore hole section
• Assessment of alternative heat sources for down hole melting of Bismuth alloys and simulation of temperature distribution

• The candidate must engage in SWIPA activities as required

Required selection criteria

• You must have completed a Norwegian doctoral degree or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian PhD in Petroleum or mechanical engineering or corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent of a Norwegian doctoral degree is reguired. If you can document that the PhD thesis has been submitted, your application can be assessed even if you have not yet defended your dissertation. Documentation of the obtained doctoral degree must be presented before you can take up the position.
• Good written and oral English language skills

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Ph.D Candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate. (https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2006-01-31-102)

Preferred selection criteria

• Relevant industrial and / or research experiences
• Creativity and innovation

Personal characteristics

• High level of personal responsibility and initiative
• Work independently as well as part of a team in accordance with the project objectives

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment (https://i.ntnu.no/wiki/-/wiki/Norsk/Inkluderende+arbeidsliv) with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (https://www.spk.no/en/)
• employee benefits (https://innsida.ntnu.no/wiki/-/wiki/English/Benefits+and+discounts)

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 594 500 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

The period of employment is 2 years.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants (https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2017-06-16-67), and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.

After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in Norwegian or English.

Publications and other scientific work must be attached to the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

The application must include:

• CV and certificates
• transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's-, master's- and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your Ph.D, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or that your PhD thesis has been submitted
• A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting, or have recently submitted your thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 5 items)
• A one-page research proposal outlining how you would approch the research challenge
• Name and contact information of three referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here (https://www.ntnu.edu/positions/documentation-requirements-of-academic-credentials). If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA. (https://www.ascb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/sfdora.pdf)

General information

Working at NTNU (https://www.ntnu.edu/positions/working-at-ntnu)

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway's culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality (https://www.ntnu.edu/genderequality).

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The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

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As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation (https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2006-05-19-16/KAPITTEL_3#%C2%A725). You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Prof. Sigbjørn Sangesland, telephone (+47) 918 97 308, e-mail sigbjorn.sangesland@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR consultant Anne-Lise Brekken, e-mail: anne.lise.brekken@ntnu.no.

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

Application deadline: 15.06.2024.