Research

Research activity within IPE has traditionally spanned across the complete spectrum from exploration, through reservoir appraisal and development, to production technology. In addition our research remit includes focus beyond petroleum into the whole energy sector and related environmental issues.

Within this broad remit we have 12 distinct research themes, each represented by an interactive grouping of academic/research staff and postgraduate research students. Because of the truly inter-disciplinary nature of much of our research, several of these themes span the rather artificial boundaries between exploration, development and production, while individual staff may also work across different themes. At the same time, several themes contribute to larger regional or national frameworks.

Research themes and leads

1. Petroleum Geoscience
   Lead: Prof. Dorrik Stow
   Reservoir Description, Geomechanics, Seismic Interpretation
2. Unconventional Reservoirs
   Lead:Laurence Ormerod
   Full theme still in planning phase
3. Carbonate Reservoirs
   Leads: Prof. Patrick Corbett & Prof. Sebastian Geiger
   Leading partner in International Centre for Carbonate Reservoirs (ICCR)
4. Reservoir Geophysics
   Lead: Prof. Colin MacBeth
   Includes the Edinburgh Time Lapse Project (ETLP)
5. Multiscale Modelling and Flow Simulation
   Lead: Dr. Steven McDougall
6. Uncertainty Quantification
   Lead: Prof. Mike Christie
7. Production Chemistry/Scale
   Lead: Prof. Ken Sorbie
   Includes SCALE
8. Centre for Enhanced Oil Recovery and CO2 Solutions
   Lead: Prof. Mehran Sohrabi
   Also known as Hydrocarbon Recovery Mechanisms
9. Hydrates, Flow Assurance & Phase Equilibria
   Lead: Prof. Bahman Tohidi
   Includes the International Centre for Hydrates Research (ICHR)
10. Production Technology
    Lead: Prof. David Davies
    Includes SMART wells and Rock Mechanics
11. Marine Renewables
    Lead: Prof. Jon Side
    International Centre for Island Technology (ICIT), Orkney
12. Carbon Capture & Storage
    Leads: Prof. Eric Mackay & Prof. Mehran Sohrabi
    Involved with the Scottish Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage (SCCS)