Post-doctoral researcher in numerical modelling of underground H2 storage
LMAP, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour
This study is part of a collaboration between the universities of Pau (LMAP), Lorraine (GeoRessources) and IFP Energies nouvelles as part of the ANR project HyStorEn: Hydrogen storage in an underground hydrosystem: physicochemical behaviour, monitoring and environmental impact.
Energy, Resources and the Environment (ERE)
Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology (GMPV)
Hydrogen stands poised as a pivotal component in shaping the future energy mix and offering promising prospects as a clean and sustainable vector for storing renewable energy and catalyzing industrial decarbonization efforts. This promotes the development of large-scale hydrogen storage solutions to meet energy demands and mitigate the intermittency of wind and solar energy.
In contrast with surface storage facilities limited by their capacity, subsurface hydrogen storage in salt caverns or porous reservoirs has the potential to supply energy on such a large scale. Major concerns remains, however, about the biogeochemical conditions which could affect hydrogen or the mixture of gas stored within the reservoir itself or during H2 leakage trough upper shallow aquifers.
The aim of this post-doctoral project, is to model the behavior of H2 storage in porous media at a reservoir scale. One of the challenges is to take into account the bio-geochemical reactions that may occur in the reservoir during the on-site operations. This approach will be carried out in a unique pilot natural site (underground cavities in Saint-Emilion, SW France), which will be used as the model of formations above a H2 storage. The objectives of this project are twofold: (a) to elaborate a mathematical model of population kinetics for hydrogenotrophic microorganisms under the conditions of shallow aquifer and vadose zone in the Saint-Emilion site, France and (b) to develop in the framework of DuMuX (C++) or MRST (Matlab) a code to couple two-phase flow, transport, microbial population dynamics, and biogeochemical reaction processes in deformable porous media. Due to the size of the considered problems and consequently the long computational time, high performance computing (HPC) will be used. The simulator thus constructed is designed to be easily used by the scientific community and to provide users with efficient algorithms for the simulation of UHS processes in porous media.
The appplication document should include your CV in English or French with your background in numerical analysis, discretization methods and scientific computing, a list of publications, and a cover letter explaining interests and goals. Reference letters will be appreciated. Applications should be submitted as a single PDF document by e-mail to brahim.amaziane@univ-pau.fr and fabrice.golfier@univ-lorraine.fr
The review of applications will start on March 1st, 2024, and will continue until the positions are filled, but early application is strongly encouraged.
A fixed-term work contract for a duration of 12 months (renewable once) is proposed.
Salary: approx. 2300 € net per month including healthcare cover.