Geothermal Conformance and Flow Control Researcher Full-time

Geothermal Conformance and Flow Control Researcher

This position is located at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin.

Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, invites applications for a 1-year Research Scientist Associate III in Geothermal Engineering, with a primary focus on reservoir flow conformance and flow control technologies for next-generation Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). The successful candidate will conduct cutting-edge research to characterize and manage fracture connectivity and optimize fluid distribution within granites and sedimentary rocks, maximize heat sweep efficiency, reduce preferential flow through highly conductive fractures, delay thermal breakthrough, and enhance long-term thermal recovery from EGS. This position also aims to model, evaluate, and optimize innovative engineering solutions, including chemical, mechanical, completion-based, and operational flow control strategies to optimize geothermal energy production performance. Research will combine reservoir simulation, field data analysis, and coupled modeling to investigate fluid diversion, fracture flow management, conformance improvement, and intelligent injection strategies under high-temperature geothermal conditions in granites and sedimentary rocks.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct research to characterize and manage fracture connectivity and optimize fluid distribution within granites and sedimentary rocks, maximize heat sweep efficiency, reduce preferential flow through highly conductive fractures, delay thermal breakthrough, and enhance long-term thermal recovery from geothermal systems. Model, evaluate, and optimize innovative engineering solutions, including chemical, mechanical, completion-based, and operational flow control strategies.
• Write peer-reviewed journal publications and conference papers. Present at conferences.
• Identify new funding opportunities and help write proposals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• MS with 2 years of experience in petroleum engineering, geothermal engineering, earth sciences, and related disciplines with experience in geothermal energy or unconventional oil and gas well completions.
• Demonstrated experience in porous and/or fractured-media flow and subsurface fluid transport.
• Demonstrated experience in reservoir flow conformance, flow control, fluid diversion, and well completions.
• Experience with simulation programs such as CMG, TOUGH, MOOSE, ResFrac, or similar tools.
• Strong understanding of multiphase flow, heat transport, and fractured reservoir behavior.
• Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar scientific computing languages.
• Excellent data management skills
• Demonstrated scientific/technical writing skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and professional demeanor
• Ability to work effectively with multiple disciplines, including geosciences and engineering

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in petroleum engineering, geothermal engineering, earth sciences, and related disciplines
• Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and geothermal reservoir engineering
• Unconventional well completions and multistage hydraulic fracture stimulation.
• Hydraulic fracture propagation modeling, characterization, and flow diagnostics
• Reservoir conformance control, fluid diversion, and flow control technologies used in oil and gas, and geothermal reservoirs.
• Familiarity with polymer, gel, foam, particle-based, or smart fluid flow diversion technologies.
• Zonal isolation, selective injection/production, completion-based flow control, or other flow management strategies
• Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) and Embedded Discrete Fracture Modeling (EDFM)
• Tracer design and interpretation
• Machine learning or optimization for reservoir management
• Experience working with field-scale geothermal or oil and gas datasets and industries

Salary Range

$68,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work in all weather conditions
• May work in extreme temperatures
• May work around chemical fumes
• May work around standard office conditions
• May work around chemicals
• May work around electrical and mechanical hazards
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Use of manual dexterity
• Climbing of stairs
• Climbing of ladders
• Lifting and moving
• Occasional weekend, overtime, and evening work to meet deadlines
• Occasional travel intrastate, interstate, international
• Occasional fieldwork as necessary

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information
• Letter of interest